Employee Relations Manager

Go back Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Employee Relations Manager The closing date is 24 March 2026

This post is only open for applications from individuals employed within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.

Organisations within scope are as follows:

• Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Isle of Wight NHS Trust
• Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Band 7: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum (effective from 01/04/2026)

Hours Per Week: 37.5 full time

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Base: Block 4000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3EN

Are you an experienced HR professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for building positive, fair, and supportive working environments?

We are looking for a highly skilled and proactive Employee Relations Manager to join our dynamic Employee Relations (ER) team, supporting both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust as part of our Single Corporate Services model.

This is a key leadership role, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on culture, capability, and staff experience across two large NHS organisations. If you are a confident HR professional with strong leadership capability and a drive to deliver high quality employee relations services, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job As an Employee Relations Manager, you will play a senior and influential role in shaping the delivery of high quality ER services across both Trusts. You will:

• Lead and manage complex employee relations cases, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Provide expert guidance to managers on HR issues, including disciplinary matters, grievances, sickness management, MHPS, performance concerns, and organisational change.
• Support and develop the Assistant ER Managers and ER Advisors, ensuring high standards of case management and continuous professional growth within the team.
• Represent HR in complex hearings and appeal panels, providing assurance of robust and fair processes.
• Build strong relationships with managers, leaders, Trade Union colleagues, and other stakeholders to deliver collaborative and solution-focused outcomes.
• Drive process improvement, policy development, and best practice across ER operations.
• Present ER data, analysis, and trends at divisional and Trust-level meetings to support effective and informed decision making.
• Lead and deliver training programmes for managers to strengthen people management capability and embed a just and learning culture.
• Support the coordination and response to Employment Tribunal claims, Subject Access Requests (SARs), FOI requests, and police enquiries relating to investigations.
• Take responsibility for divisional ER leadership, reporting performance and ensuring alignment with Trust objectives.

About us As part of the Single Corporate Service, Employee Relations Team provides a service across both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and plays a vital role in creating a fair, supportive, and inclusive workplace culture.

Our team mission is to drive the delivery of high-quality employee relations services, provide specialist advice and support to managers, and ensure compliance with employment legislation and Trust policies.

Our responsibilities include advising line managers on various HR matters such as disciplinary actions, grievance resolutions, performance management, attendance issues, and conflict resolution. A core aspect of your role will be to enhance managerial capabilities and enable them to address personnel and work environment challenges effectively.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and Disability, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

Job responsibilities Job purpose

The purpose of the Employee Relations Manager for Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is to drive the delivery of high-quality employee relations services, provide specialist advice and support to managers, and ensure compliance with employment legislation and Trust policies.

The role involves providing guidance on a wide range of complex employment issues and supporting the Trust in achieving its strategic and operational objectives within the scope of national and Medical terms and conditions.

The post holder will play a crucial role in fostering a just and learning culture, promoting a culture of improvement, and ensuring consistent office cover and effective service delivery across both Trusts in alignment with the objectives of a Single Corporate Service.

Job summary

As an Employee Relations Manager, you will serve as a key authority in Employee Relations, managing complex employee relations cases, guiding managers on optimal practices, and supporting team members through investigations. Your role includes representing HR in Trust hearings and appeals while promoting a resolution-focused environment that encourages staff engagement and empowerment.

You will design and implement training programs for managers and staff, monitor employee relations performance metrics, and support the day-to-day operations of the Employee Relations team. Your responsibilities will include advising line managers on various HR matters such as disciplinary actions, grievance resolutions, performance management, attendance issues, and conflict resolution. A core aspect of your role will be to enhance managerial capabilities, enabling them to address personnel challenges effectively.

As a recognised expert in Employee Relations, you will develop training modules for both managers and People and Organisational Development personnel, enhancing skills and competencies within the team. Your focus will be on creating effective, value-driven employee relations processes that ensure compliance with best practices and legal standards.

Collaborating with other Employee Relations Managers, you will share accountability for advancing employee relations services, conducting training sessions, updating intranet resources, and presenting regular Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports to leadership.

Specific Core Functions

Case Management:

• Lead and facilitate complex employee relations cases, ensuring compliance with best practices and legal requirements, while promoting a resolution-focused approach.

Coaching and Development:

• Coach managers in designated areas to enhance their leadership and people management skills in alignment with Trust competencies, values, behavioural framework and fostering a just and learning culture.

Communication and Reporting:

• Provide information and advice to directorates and other management groups regarding employee relations and workforce issues via telephone, email, or in person.
• Prepare workforce reports and attend Directorate Management Weekly Meetings, Management Quarterly Boards, and Monthly Performance Reviews to present these papers.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders to enhance employee relations.
• Act as an impartial mediator between parties to seek resolutions for disputes as required.

Leadership and Development of Employee Relations Team:

• Provide supportive line management to the Assistant Employee Relations Managers and Employee Relations Advisors, offering guidance and mentoring to enhance their skills and ensure effective case management and service delivery within the team.
• Conduct regular one on one meetings and appraisals with team members to provide constructive feedback and identify individual developmental needs, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Assist in the coordination of training programs and workshops that enhance the capabilities of the Employee Relations team, ensuring that team members are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to address employee relations challenges effectively.
• Encourage a collaborative team environment that values input and ideas from all members, promoting engagement and shared responsibility for achieving departmental goals.

Expert Guidance on Employee Relations Issues:

• Provide specialised guidance on medical employee relations issues, particularly concerning Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) and Trust policies, as well as TUPE processes.
• Provide comprehensive employee relations advice and guidance on complex issues based on policies, AfC and Medical terms and conditions, and best practices.
• Manage and complete job evaluations in accordance with NHS job evaluation criteria, ensuring that all positions are assessed fairly and equitably based on a systematic analysis of responsibilities, skills, and the impact on patient care . click apply for full job details