Employee Relations Advisor in Manchester

This is an excellent opportunity to join the University of Manchester's Employee Relations Team and contribute to a service that supports positive working relationships across one of the UK's largest and most diverse higher education institutions. As an Employee Relations Advisor, you will manage and support a varied portfolio of formal casework, including disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, absence management, whistleblowing and capability matters. Working closely with Employee Relations Partners, managers, People colleagues and employee representatives, you will help ensure that processes are fair, transparent, timely and aligned with University policy and employment law. This is a role where your professional judgement, communication skills and ability to build trust will make a real difference. You will support hearings and investigations, contribute to training and guidance, help identify lessons learned from casework, and play an active part in improving the way employee relations support is delivered across the University.

We are looking for someone who brings strong HR and employee relations experience, sound knowledge of employment law and policy, and confidence working in a large, complex and unionised environment. You will be organised, analytical and pragmatic, with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of confidentiality, fairness and attention to detail. In return, you will join a collaborative and supportive team within the Directorate of People, with opportunities to develop your employee relations expertise and contribute to meaningful work that supports colleagues, managers and the wider University community. If you are resolution-focused and motivated by fair and effective people practice, we would welcome your application.

You will be responsible for:

• To undertake management of a portfolio of ER cases under the formal provisions of the Disciplinary, Grievance, Dignity at Work, Absence Management, Whistleblowing and Capability Procedures.
• Manage and/or support ER casework as allocated by the ER Partner, including administration relating to casework, less complex disciplinary and grievance investigations and acting as ER Advisor to panels at hearings.
• Supervise administrators in the provision of formal casework administration, ensuring service level standards and targets are maintained.
• Deputise for ER Partners in their absence or as their nominee for certain activities, as agreed with the Director of ER. This will entail acting as the initial point of contact in the absence of the ERP and dealing with queries commensurate with the grade, referring matters to the Director of ER where necessary.
• In conjunction with the Director of ER and the ER Partners, support with the design, organisation and delivery of ER led training activity to both PS and academic colleagues; and deliver on University wide ER related training with the Talent Development team.
• To support and assist the ER Partners to manage the associated tracking and reporting systems. Produce management information for client areas on a monthly basis.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to degree level and/or Chartered Membership of the CIPD.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the operation of key ER processes and procedures within the University including Disciplinary, Grievance, Dignity at Work, Absence Management, Whistleblowing and Capability Procedures.
• Excellent people skills including motivating, persuading, conflict management and negotiating skills and able to demonstrate they are resolution-focused and aim to improve organisation outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), able to produce written documentation with minimum level of supervision.
• Experience and knowledge of Human Resources in a large, complex and unionised organisation, particularly employee relations and engagement, case management, equality, diversity and inclusion, and organisation development.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of supervising administrators.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications. Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension.
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure.
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews can be directed to Anne O'Neill or Jayne Kavanagh (ER Partners) via email: a.o'neill@manchester.ac.uk or jayne.kavanagh@manchester.ac.uk. General enquiries and administrative support can be sent to recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk.

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must demonstrate the right to work in the UK. Applications close at midnight on the closing date.