237643 Employee Relations Manager

An Employee Relations Manager is required to join the Employee Relations Team in NHS Lothian. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing specialist advice and support to services within NHS Lothian. They will carry a portfolio of highly complex cases and manage a team of ER Practitioners. In addition to this, they will have responsibility for designing and delivering organisation wide training on HR policies and processes and will lead on the design and delivery of training for the Employee Relations Team, including monthly team development sessions as well as practitioner level specific training to support knowledge and skills development and succession planning.

The successful candidate should have significant experience in leading a complex ER case load, management of change and HR leadership in a complex, multi union public sector organisation. They will have strong interpersonal, influencing, and problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure will be essential. Previous experience of designing and delivering HR training and development is advantageous.

If you think you have the skills and experience to undertake this key role, we would love to hear from you. Informal enquiries would be welcomed by Sally Preston Wells, Interim Head of Employee Relations via

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to check as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

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NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.