Employee Relations Manager Manchester City Centre - Hybrid Working 12-Months+ FTC £45,000 + Enhanced Benefits Package
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to join a people-first, fast-paced and evolving People function on a 12-month fixed term contract (12 months+).
This is a key leadership role focused on ensuring a fair, consistent and compassionate approach to employee relations. You will lead a small ER team, manage escalated matters, and take ownership of complex employee relations cases across the business.
At the heart of this role is a strong people-first mindset - balancing commercial needs with empathy, fairness, and a genuine focus on employee wellbeing and experience. You will act as a trusted partner to senior managers, supporting them to handle people matters confidently, consistently and with care.
You will also use people data and insight to identify trends, improve practices, and continuously enhance the employee experience. Alongside this, you will develop your team, embedding a supportive, inclusive and high-performing culture within the ER function.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support a small HR team (Advisors and Administrators) with a strong focus on coaching, development and consistent, people-first delivery
- Act as escalation point for complex and sensitive employee relations matters
- Oversee a caseload of ER cases, handled by the team including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, performance concerns and restructures
- Partner with senior managers to provide empathetic, practical and commercially balanced HR advice
- Promote a fair, respectful and consistent approach to people management across the business
- Support and upskill managers to handle people issues confidently and compassionately
- Ensure policies and practices are applied fairly and in line with employment legislation and best practice
- Support resolution of workplace conflict, using mediation and constructive resolution approaches where appropriate
- Use people data and insight to identify trends and improve employee experience and ER practices
- Provide clear reporting and insight on ER activity to senior stakeholders
- Contribute to wider People initiatives, with a strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion and continuous improvement
- Stay up to date with employment law and best practice to ensure a fair and compliant approach
Candidate Profile
We are looking for an experienced HR professional who brings a strong people-first and values-led approach to employee relations.
You will have a proven background in ER, with experience managing complex cases in a way that balances fairness, empathy and commercial understanding. You will be confident operating in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift, and where thoughtful, people-centred decision-making is essential.
You will be skilled at building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, influencing outcomes through credibility, collaboration and emotional intelligence.
A strong understanding of employment law and its practical application is essential, alongside a genuine commitment to improving employee experience and wellbeing.
You will be resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure, with strong analytical skills and confidence using HR systems and data to inform decisions.
Ideally, you will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), with CIPD Level 5 or above desirable.
What's on Offer
- A genuinely people-first ER leadership role within a supportive People function
- Opportunity to shape employee experience and drive meaningful cultural impact
- High visibility with senior stakeholders and strategic people priorities
- Hybrid working model (3 days office / 2 days remote)
- Enhanced benefits package
- 12-months+ fixed term contract
- Role to commence in July 2026
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ER professional who is passionate about creating fair, supportive and people-centred workplaces, while also delivering strong commercial outcomes.
Please apply to Leanne Boddy at Macmillan Davies.
