At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead employee relations cases and coach managers to build positive workplace cultures.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking HR team in a growing multi-site business.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company car, and the chance to shape a new role.
- Other info: Enjoy autonomy and visibility while developing your coaching skills.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on employee experience and culture across the organisation.
- Qualifications: Proven HR experience, strong UK employment law knowledge, and CIPD Level 5 qualified.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Derby
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent – 40hrs per week
Salary: £38,000 - £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)
About the Role
We're looking for an experienced and passionate Employee Relations Manager to join a growing People Team in a newly created role. This position offers the opportunity to make a real impact across a multi-site business. You'll be the trusted HR partner for managers across a retail estate and production operation, helping them navigate people matters confidently, fairly and consistently. If you're someone who sees employee relations as more than just policy and process—someone who enjoys coaching, developing others and building positive workplace cultures—we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead disciplinary, grievance and capability cases from start to finish, ensuring fair, compliant and consistent outcomes.
- Take ownership of the absence management process, supporting managers with welfare discussions, return-to-work meetings and formal absence hearings.
- Provide practical and timely advice on a wide range of employee relations matters, focusing on early intervention and resolution.
- Support the selection, implementation and ongoing development of a new HR system.
- Assist with reviewing and updating HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and clear communication across the business.
Manager Coaching & Development
- Act as a trusted advisor to managers, becoming the first person they contact before issues escalate.
- Coach managers through live employee relations situations, building their confidence and capability.
- Facilitate debrief and lessons-learned conversations following case completion to encourage continuous improvement.
Supporting the People Strategy
- Improving employee retention
- Developing stronger managers
About You
- Proven experience in an Employee Relations or HR role, ideally within a multi-site environment.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
- Experience independently managing disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence cases.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- CIPD Level 5 qualified (minimum).
- Experience working within retail, hospitality, manufacturing or other operational environments would be advantageous.
Personal Attributes
- A natural coach who enjoys helping others develop confidence and capability.
- Pragmatic, solutions-focused and commercially aware.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage a varied caseload.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently.
- Comfortable spending time across multiple locations and building relationships with managers at all levels.
- Someone who enjoys being visible, approachable and actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the business.
What We Offer
- Salary of £38,000–£40,000
- Company car
- The opportunity to shape a newly created role
- A supportive and forward-thinking HR team
- Genuine opportunity to influence culture, leadership capability and employee experience
- A varied role with significant autonomy and visibility across the business
This vacancy is advertised on behalf of Talent-UK Ltd who are operating as an employment agency/business, we are an equal opportunities employer, your application will be sent to us for review, at which stage we will be in touch to discuss your details further. We will not submit your CV until you have been briefed on the position and we have your consent to do so.
Employee Relations Manager employer: Talent UK
Join a dynamic and supportive People Team as an Employee Relations Manager in Derby, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape a newly created role and make a significant impact across a multi-site business. With a focus on coaching and developing managers, you'll thrive in a culture that values employee engagement and continuous improvement, all while enjoying competitive benefits such as a company car and a salary of £38,000–£40,000. This role offers not just a job, but a chance to influence workplace culture and enhance the employee experience in a forward-thinking environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employee Relations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field, especially those who work in employee relations. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to employee relations. Think about real-life scenarios where you’ve successfully managed grievances or coached managers. We want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for employee relations during interviews. Talk about how you’ve built positive workplace cultures and supported managers. Let them see that you’re not just about policies but about people!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Employee Relations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Employee Relations Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing disciplinary and grievance cases, and don’t forget to showcase your coaching skills. We want to see how you can make a real impact!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about employee relations and how your background aligns with our needs. Be genuine and let your personality come through—after all, we’re looking for someone who fits our culture.
Showcase Relevant Experience:When filling out your application, focus on your experience in multi-site environments and your knowledge of UK employment law. We love seeing examples of how you've successfully navigated people matters in the past, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Talent UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on UK employment law and HR best practices. Familiarise yourself with common employee relations scenarios, especially in multi-site environments. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're the right fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Prepare examples of how you've coached managers through challenging employee relations situations. Highlight your ability to build confidence and capability in others, as this is a key aspect of the role. Use specific instances where your guidance led to positive outcomes.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked about how you'd handle various employee relations cases, like grievances or disciplinary actions. Think through your approach to these situations beforehand, focusing on fairness, compliance, and consistency. This will demonstrate your practical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
✨Emphasise Your Relationship-Building Skills
Since the role involves working closely with managers across different locations, be prepared to discuss how you build and maintain relationships. Share examples of how you've been approachable and visible in previous roles, and how that has positively impacted workplace culture.
