Employee Relations Manager in Cambridge

Job Description

Job Title

Employee Relations Manager

Reporting To

Head of Employee Relations

Location

Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

Type

Permanent

Salary

Band 7

Mode

On-site (Once settled, hybrid working may be considered with 3 days on-site and 2 days working from home)

Job Purpose

Our client is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to provide specialist employee relations advice and support across the organisation.

The successful candidate will work in partnership with senior managers, offering expert guidance on complex HR and employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice.

The role will involve managing complex casework, supporting organisational change initiatives, delivering training, developing HR policies and contributing to the continuous improvement of workforce practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and guidance to managers on complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness absence and performance management cases.
• Manage a varied employee relations caseload, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice.
• Support managers throughout formal investigations, hearings, disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Present management cases at appeal hearings and Employment Tribunals where required.
• Develop strong working relationships with senior managers, supporting workforce planning and organisational development initiatives.
• Build and maintain effective consultation and communication with trade unions and staff representatives.
• Contribute to organisational change programmes, advising managers on workforce-related matters and best practice.
• Undertake job evaluation and job matching exercises where required.
• Draft, review and implement HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with current employment legislation.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and guidance to managers to strengthen leadership capability across the organisation.
• Design and deliver HR training programmes covering employee relations policies, employment legislation and management best practice.
• Produce reports, analyse workforce data and provide recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion across all employee relations activities.
• Support the wider HR and Workforce team by contributing to service improvement initiatives and sharing best practice.
• Act as a role model by promoting the organisation's values and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Master's level qualification in Human Resources or equivalent professional experience.
• CIPD qualification (or equivalent HR qualification/experience).
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Experience in performance management, disciplinary, grievance and absence management.
• Experience managing or supporting HR teams.
• Experience designing and delivering management training.
• Experience using HR information systems.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation and its practical application.
• Experience working collaboratively with senior stakeholders and managers.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within the NHS, healthcare or wider public sector.
• Experience within a unionised environment.
• Experience supporting organisational change and workforce planning.
• Experience of TUPE.
• Experience undertaking Agenda for Change job evaluations.
• Coaching or mentoring experience.
• Knowledge & Skills
• Thorough understanding of employee relations principles and employment law.
• Excellent knowledge of HR policies and procedures.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence and build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities whilst working to tight deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and Power Point.
• Ability to analyse workforce data and produce meaningful reports.
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop managers.
• Responsive, adaptable and able to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Working Pattern
• 37.5 hours per week.
• Initially based on-site
• Following successful induction and subject to service requirements, hybrid working may be considered with 3 days on-site and 2 days working from home.
• Compliance Requirements

The successful candidate will be expected to

• Comply with all organisational policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection legislation.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Participate in mandatory training and annual appraisal.
• Uphold the organisation's values and behaviours at all times.
• Maintain high standards of governance, health & safety and information security.

Step Ahead is acting as an Employment Agency. Step Ahead is committed to preventing discrimination in its recruitment practices by stimulating genuine equality of opportunity.

This means that everyone is treated solely on the basis of competence and merit, regardless of age, gender, marital status, sexuality, ethnicity, racial, religious or disability considerations, and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community.