Employee Relations Manager

Employee Relations Manager

Location: Derby

Employment Type: Full time, Permanent - 40hrs per week

Salary: £38,000 - £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)

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 see 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.
• Act as a trusted advisor to managers, becoming the first person they contact before issues escalated.
• 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.
• Improve employee retention.
• Develop 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.
• 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

We are an equal opportunities employer.