Senior Manager, Employee Relations in Manchester

The role holder is responsible for leading NCC Group’s approach to employee relations, ensuring a consistent, commercially focused and people-centred framework for managing ER matters across the business. This role provides expert guidance on complex employee relations issues, supports organisational change activity, and ensures policies and practices are aligned with legal requirements and business needs. A key part of the role is to establish and embed an effective ER framework, and take ownership for the review, development and governance of people policies. This is a global role, working with regional support to ensure employee relations practices are aligned, locally appropriate and responsive to business needs. The role holder will work closely with People Partners, Legal team and business leaders to drive consistency, mitigate risk and strengthen manager capability in handling ER matters globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management of complex employee relations cases, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence, performance, conflict resolution, whistleblowing and organisational change matters.
• Provide expert, pragmatic and risk-based advice to People colleagues and leaders on employee relations issues, ensuring legal compliance and consistency of approach.
• Oversee case trends and themes, using insight to identify risks, inform interventions and support continuous improvement.
• Support high-risk and business-critical ER matters through to resolution, including partnering with legal teams where required.
• Design, implement and maintain an employee relations framework that enables a consistent and effective approach to ER matters across the organisation.
• Own the review, development and governance of people policies, ensuring they remain legally compliant, practical and aligned to business needs and culture.
• Ensure clear documentation, templates and guidance materials are in place to support managers and People teams.
• Monitor legislative developments and emerging best practice, translating these into policy and process improvements where appropriate.
• Manage the Employee Relations Partner, providing guidance, support and development, while helping to build capability and consistency in the handling of ER matters across the team.
• Build manager capability through training, coaching and practical guidance on employee relations processes and good people management practice.
• Partner with People Partners and business leaders to support proactive resolution of people issues and ensure alignment to wider people strategy.
• Contribute to organisational change, consultation and transformation activity by providing employee relations expertise and ensuring fair and compliant processes.
• Develop strong relationships with leaders, People teams and legal colleagues to ensure joined-up handling of employee relations matters.
• Use data and case insights to identify trends, inform reporting and recommend actions to improve colleague experience and reduce organisational risk.
• Drive continuous improvement in employee relations processes, documentation and service delivery to create a more efficient and effective ER function.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Significant experience in employee relations, employment law and people policy development within a complex organisational environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application across a range of employee relations matters.
• Proven experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases with sound judgement and a pragmatic, commercial approach.
• Experience creating or embedding frameworks, policies and governance processes that improve consistency and reduce risk.
• Experience leading or coaching others and building capability in managers and People colleagues.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to operate credibly at all levels.

Desirable

• CIPD qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Experience supporting organisational change, consultation activity and transformation programmes.
• Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or within a global business environment, partnering with regional teams to apply a consistent approach that reflects local requirements.

Job Benefits

• Flexible Working: Balance your work and personal life with our flexible working options.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Enjoy 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days of annual leave.
• Medicash & Critical Illness Scheme Financial & Investment Benefits: Enjoy peace of mind with our Pension, Life Assurance, and Share Save Scheme.
• Community & Volunteering Programmes: Make a difference in your community with our volunteering opportunities.
• Green Car Scheme: Drive green and save money with our eco-friendly car scheme.
• Cycle Scheme: Stay fit and healthy with our cycle-to-work scheme.
• Special Time Off: Take time off for those big moments in life, like getting married/entering into a civil partnership, becoming a grandparent, and welcoming home a new pet.
• Family Planning: Benefit from our generous maternity and paternity leave, as well as time off and support for those undergoing fertility treatments.