Employee Relations Lead in Farnworth

Do you have strong experience in Employee Relations, possibly in a strong ER or general HR role?

Do you have excellent employment law knowledge and experience working with unions on day to day basis?

Would you like to work for an organisation that genuinely makes a difference to peoples lives every day?

If so, this Employee Relations Lead role could be the perfect opportunity for you.

As well as an excellent salary of up to £45,000, this offers hybrid working, flexitime and benefits that include 26 days holiday plus bank holidays, discount schemes, a health and wellbeing programme, free parking, a pension scheme and regular company events.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of HR, you will be working closely with managers and stakeholders across the organisation, ensuring the organisation adopts a fair, consistent, legally compliant and solutions‑focused approach to managing people matters.

As the organisation’s subject matter expert for employee relations, you will provide advice, guidance and support to managers and leaders on a wide range of complex workforce issues, leading on investigations, disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence management processes, whilst supporting managers to develop confidence and capability in managing people effectively.

• Lead and manage complex employee relations cases from start to finish, ensuring legal compliance, fairness and best practice.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to managers on disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, attendance, probation, conduct and misconduct matters.
• Lead investigations, including gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and preparing investigation reports.
• Support formal hearings, appeals and case resolutions by advising on risks, outcomes and appropriate approaches.
• Ensure employee relations cases are being managed consistently, professionally and within agreed timescales.
• Maintain accurate case records, trackers and management information to support reporting and governance.
• Act as a key advisor on employment law, ACAS guidance and HR best practice, while supporting policy reviews and updates.
• Identify employment law developments and support the implementation of required changes.
• Build strong relationships with managers, operational leaders and Trade Union representatives, supporting consultation and engagement activity.
• Advise on workforce compliance requirements, including right to work checks, immigration matters and sponsorship processes.
• Analyse employee relations data and trends to identify risks, improvements and opportunities to strengthen workforce practices.
• Support and coach HR colleagues on employee relations queries, while acting as an escalation point for complex matters.

Qualifications

• Previous strong experience in a similar role dealing with all aspects of employee relations including investigations, disciplinaries and grievances, possibly in an ER or more general HR role.
• Experience of working in a unionised environment.
• Excellent employment law knowledge with experience advising senior managers.
• Strong knowledge of right to work, sponsorship and visa requirements.
• CIPD level 5 or above.
• Strong IT skills including Word, Excel and Outlook along with case management systems.
• Due to the need to visit other sites in the region, a full current driving licence and your own transport (expenses paid).

Benefits

• A salary of £42,000 to £45,000 depending on experience.
• Hybrid working – 3 days in the office and 2 days from home after initial bedding‑in period.
• Flexitime around core hours.
• 26 days plus bank holidays.
• Company events.
• Employee discount scheme.
• Free on‑site parking.
• Health and wellbeing programme.
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