Senior Employee Relations Manager - Hybrid, 12-month FTC

Affinia; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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Job summary

Affinia is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager on a 12‑month fixed term contract to lead complex ER matters, coach managers and partner with the People team across multiple offices. The role requires in-depth knowledge of UK employment law and a track record of handling high‑risk grievances and investigations.

You will drive policy application, prepare tribunal responses, and support organisational change including acquisitions and TUPE transfers, while maintaining accurate case

Qualifications

• Significant experience in an Employee Relations Manager, Employee Relations Advisor, Employee Relations Specialist or HR Business Partner role with a strong employee relations focus.
• Proven experience independently managing complex employee relations cases from initial advice through to conclusion.
• Excellent working knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS guidance and HR best practice.
• Experience managing high-risk grievances, disciplinary matters, appeals, investigations, capability processes and organisational change.
• Excellent report writing and letter drafting skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to advise senior managers and Partners.
• Ability to coach and develop managers in handling employee relations matters.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent judgement and the ability to balance legal risk with commercial outcomes.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality.
• CIPD Level 5 qualified or working towards Level 7.
• Experience within a professional services or multi-site environment.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, TUPE transfers or organisational change.
• Experience supporting Employment Tribunal claims.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a varied caseload of complex employee relations matters across the business, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence management, investigations, appeals, probation, flexible working, organisational change and redundancy.
• Act as the first point of contact for the wider People team on employee relations matters, providing expert advice and guidance before escalation to the People Director where required.
• Partner with People Business Partners and People Advisors to ensure employee relations matters are managed consistently and in line with company policy, employment legislation and best practice.
• Lead and support managers through formal employee relations processes, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.
• Draft high-quality employee relations documentation including investigation reports, invitation letters, outcome letters, appeal outcomes, settlement correspondence and management recommendations.
• Identify legal, commercial and reputational risks, providing pragmatic recommendations that balance organisational needs with a positive employee experience.
• Support organisational change programmes, including restructures, redundancies, business reorganisations and consultation processes.
• Lead the employee relations aspects of business acquisitions and TUPE transfers, providing expert advice throughout the transfer process and ensuring compliance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
• Advise managers and the wider People team on TUPE obligations, including due diligence, employee liability information, consultation requirements, measures, changes to terms and conditions, and post-transfer employee relations issues.
• Support consultation meetings relating to acquisitions, TUPE transfers and organisational change, preparing documentation and ensuring legal compliance throughout the process.
• Work closely with integration teams to manage employee relations risks arising from acquisitions, harmonisation activities and business integration programmes.
• Support the preparation of Employment Tribunal responses, ACAS Early Conciliation matters and settlement negotiations where required, liaising with external legal advisers as appropriate.
• Escalate complex, high-risk or precedent-setting cases to the People Director with clear recommendations and risk assessments.

Skills

Employee relations

Policy guidance

UK employment law

ACAS guidance

Grievance handling

Disciplinary

TUPE transfers

Acquisitions

Coaching managers

Stakeholder management

Job description

Affinia is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager on a 12‑month fixed term contract to lead complex ER matters, coach managers and partner with the People team across multiple offices. The role requires in-depth knowledge of UK employment law and a track record of handling high‑risk grievances and investigations.

You will drive policy application, prepare tribunal responses, and support organisational change including acquisitions and TUPE transfers, while maintaining accurate case