Employee Relations Manager

Overview

Are you looking for a career where you can make a real difference in people's day. We are seeking an Employee Relations (ER) Manager to join our team based from our Head Office in London Bridge (hybrid working). In this role you will support the delivery of fair, consistent, and legally compliant employee relations across the network. The ER manager will manage their own case portfolio via the case management system, working collaboratively with managers and trade union representatives to promote constructive working relationships and early resolution. This role is field based and will travel across the network with flexibility in line with our agile working policy.

What you'll do

• Support delivery of communications plans and projects across the Communications & Stakeholder Team.
• Manage a full range of employee relations cases via the case management system, ensuring all cases are accurately recorded, progressed promptly, and closed with appropriate outcomes.
• Provide clear, practical guidance to managers on disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance matters, aligned with policy and legislation.
• Build strong working relationships with trade union representatives at a local level, supporting early resolution and positive engagement on ER matters.
• Attend and advise at formal hearings, including Gross Misconduct, Stage 3 Attendance, and Capability cases, ensuring policy and procedure are correctly followed.
• Contribute to the review, development and communication of ER policies, procedures and guidance materials.
• Deliver or support training sessions to build line manager confidence and competence in managing people matters.
• Identify and elevate emerging ER themes, risks or trends to the Senior Employee Relations Manager for consideration at a strategic level.
• Support consultation processes and change activity as required, ensuring compliance with legal and procedural requirements.

Experience you'll need

• 3-5 years experience in ER (preferably within a highly unionised workforce).
• Strong working knowledge of ACAS and UK Employment Legislation.
• Experience providing sound advice & coaching to leaders, keeping up to date with changes in employment law.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload with competing priorities to meet deadlines and SLAs.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with managers, leaders and trade union reps.
• CIPD Level 5 - or equivalent HR qualification would be desirable.

Benefits

• A final salary pension.
• 25 days annual leave allowance (plus bank holidays).
• Free rail travel across our networks.

As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role. Works also supply pre-employment checks; work visa sponsorship isn't available for this role.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment.