Senior Employee Relations Manager

About the job

Job Title: Senior Employee Relations Manager
Location: Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds or London (Hybrid Working)
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

We’re recruiting for a Senior Employee Relations Manager to join the People team of a leading UK professional services organisation. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Employee Relations specialist or HR Manager to take ownership of complex ER matters while helping to shape a positive, high-performing and inclusive workplace culture.

Working closely with HR Business Partners, HR Advisors and senior business leaders, you'll provide expert guidance across a broad range of employee relations issues, support organisational change initiatives and lead the development of ER best practice.

You'll also manage and develop two direct reports, making this an excellent opportunity for someone looking to combine technical employee relations expertise with people leadership and strategic HR involvement.

This role would suit an experienced Employee Relations Manager, Senior ER Manager or employment law professional with a strong commercial mindset and experience operating within a regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations Leadership

• Lead the management and resolution of complex employee relations cases, including disciplinaries, grievances, capability, absence, discrimination, flexible working and workplace concerns.
• Conduct and oversee complex workplace investigations, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.
• Provide expert advice to Partners, Directors and managers on employee relations matters, employment legislation and best practice.
• Support dispute resolution, conciliation processes and employment tribunal preparation where required.
• Provide commercially focused guidance that balances employee wellbeing, legal compliance and business objectives.

Organisational Change & Risk Management

• Provide expert employee relations support across restructures, redundancies, TUPE transfers and organisational change programmes.
• Assess employment-related risks and provide practical, commercially focused recommendations.
• Work closely with Risk & Ethics teams to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations.
• Maintain expert knowledge of UK employment legislation and communicate relevant legislative changes across the business.
• Support effective change management processes while ensuring appropriate consultation and employee relations practices.

Stakeholder & People Leadership

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including Partners, Directors and business leaders.
• Manage, coach and develop two direct reports, supporting their professional development and employee relations expertise.
• Coach and mentor HR Advisors, helping to develop their confidence and capability in managing complex ER matters.
• Support HR Business Partners with performance management and organisational effectiveness initiatives.
• Champion psychological safety and promote a positive, inclusive employee experience.
• Act as a trusted adviser to managers and senior leaders on sensitive and complex people matters.

Policy, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Review and develop HR policies, procedures and manager guidance to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
• Monitor employee relations trends and provide data-driven insights to senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve ER processes, case management and organisational practices.
• Contribute to wider People projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure employee records are maintained in accordance with GDPR and internal governance standards.
• Support the development and implementation of employee relations best practice across the organisation.

Candidate Profile

• Significant experience managing complex employee relations cases at Manager or Senior Manager level.
• Extensive knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application within the workplace.
• Experience supporting restructures, redundancies, TUPE transfers and organisational change initiatives.
• Strong investigation, mediation, dispute resolution and conflict management skills.
• Experience influencing and advising senior stakeholders, including Directors and Partners.
• Previous experience coaching or managing HR Advisors or employee relations professionals.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting HR data and identifying employee relations trends.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple complex cases simultaneously.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance employment law considerations, organisational risk and business needs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and HR systems.
• Confident handling sensitive and confidential employee matters with professionalism and sound judgement.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within legal, financial services or another regulated professional services environment.
• Exposure to international HR practices or global employment law.
• Experience using HR analytics tools and AI technologies to support decision-making.

What Our Client Offers

• Flexible hybrid working model.
• Opportunity to lead complex and high-profile employee relations work.
• Supportive and collaborative People team.
• Opportunity to manage and develop a small team.
• Exposure to strategic HR and organisational change projects.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Excellent long-term career development opportunities within a leading professional services organisation.

How to Apply

If you're an experienced Employee Relations Manager looking to take the next step in your career within a progressive and people-focused organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply with your CV for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

About Us

We are a recruitment agency specialising in Human Resources, People & Culture, professional services and senior management appointments across the UK. We work closely with organisations to connect experienced HR professionals with opportunities where they can influence workplace culture, support organisational development and make a lasting impact on business performance.