Overview

We’re looking for an experienced Employee Relations Manager to lead our ER function and provide expert, commercially grounded advice across complex employee matters and organisational change.

Reporting to the People Director, you’ll take ownership of all complex ER activity, act as the organisation’s TUPE subject matter expert, and lead our HR Advisory team to deliver a consistent, high‑quality and risk‑managed ER service. This is a senior, influential role working closely with leaders across the business.

What you’ll be doing

Leading complex employee relations

  • Owning and overseeing complex ER cases, including disciplinaries, grievances, performance, absence, investigations and disputes
  • Ensuring outcomes are consistent, fair and legally robust

TUPE and organisational change

  • Acting as the end‑to‑end TUPE lead on inbound and outbound transfers
  • Managing due diligence, information and consultation, employee transitions and documentation
  • Partnering with senior stakeholders on restructures, redundancies and change programmes, providing expert advice on consultation frameworks and people impacts

Union and employee representative engagement

  • Building strong, constructive relationships with recognised trade unions and employee forums
  • Supporting and leading collective consultation and representing the People team in formal meetings where required

Leading and developing the ER team

  • Managing and developing the HR Advisors, embedding high standards of case management and decision‑making
  • Driving coaching, quality assurance and continuous improvement across the team

Policy, governance and risk

  • Owning ER policies and procedures, ensuring they remain up to date, relevant and legally compliant
  • Maintaining clear ER governance and risk frameworks and advising the business on employment law obligations

What we’re looking for

Experience and expertise

  • Extensive experience managing complex ER casework in a medium or large organisation
  • Proven end‑to‑end TUPE experience
  • Experience working with trade unions or employee representative bodies
  • Strong track record supporting restructures, consultations and organisational change
  • Experience managing or mentoring HR Advisors or ER specialists

Knowledge and qualifications

  • Strong, up‑to‑date knowledge of UK employment legislation and case law
  • Deep understanding of TUPE and consultation requirements
  • CIPD Level 5 essential (Level 7 desirable)

Skills and personal qualities

  • Confident, calm and credible with senior stakeholders
  • Excellent judgment, resilience and integrity
  • Strong investigation, report writing and problem‑solving skills
  • Collaborative, coaching‑led leadership style with a proactive, solutions‑focused approach

Why join us?

  • Non-contractual 10% annual bonus based on company and personal performance of your annual salary.
  • 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with yearly service + 8 bank holidays + day off on your birthday.
  • Company sick pay – 6 months and then SSP.
  • Enhanced maternity & paternity pay.
  • Life assurance x4 of your basic salary.
  • Pension plan – Calisen will double your personal contribution into the scheme up to a maximum of 7% of your gross salary.
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Plan Helpline.
  • My Rewards Platform: Discounts from hundreds of top retailers, just for being part of the team.
  • Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme

This is a pivotal role within our People function, offering the opportunity to shape how employee relations is delivered across the organisation. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, influence major change activity, and lead a skilled advisory team in a complex and fast‑moving environment.

IND789

Location: Hybrid – Wigan, WN3 5AW
Salary: £56k – £61K

Before you apply -
Register now and turn on alerts for jobs like this!

  • To apply for this position, receive job notifications and manage your applications, click "Register with Diversity Jobs Group".
  • To apply for this position without registering, click "Apply with Customer".

By registering you agree to our terms and conditions.

Apply with Customer

IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.