Description
The Employee Relations Manager will lead on employee relations across the organisation, ensuring a fair, consistent, and legally compliant approach to managing employee issues. The role provides expert guidance to leaders and HR colleagues, manages complex and high-risk cases, and supports the organisation in preparing for and implementing pending and emerging UK employment legislation.
Department
Business Partnering
Location
Head Office, Chelsea House
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations Leadership
- Lead the employee relations framework across the organisation.
- Manage complex, sensitive, and high‑risk ER cases including grievances, disciplinaries, performance management, investigations, dismissals, and organisational change matters; in partnership with the relevant Business Partner
- Act as the escalation point for senior leaders and HR colleagues on ER issues.
- Ensure consistent and fair application of policies and procedures across all locations.
Legislation Readiness and Implementation
- Monitor and interpret pending and emerging UK and Irish employment legislation and assess potential impact on the organisation.
- Lead the implementation of legislative changes into policies, procedures, and HR practices; partnering with the wider HR team.
- Translate legal requirements into clear and practical guidance for managers and HR teams.
- Proactively identify organisational risks associated with legislative change and recommend mitigation strategies.
Strategic Advisory and Risk Management
- Show up as the technical expert; providing expert advice to senior leaders on complex employee relations matters and legal risk, in partnership with relevant BP.
- Partner with internal or external legal advisors on high‑risk or litigious cases.
- Support organisational change initiatives, leading the programme management of any large scale changes ensuring all legal requirements are met.
Policy and Governance
- Develop, review, and maintain employee relations policies and procedures to ensure compliance with UK and Irish employment law.
- Lead consultation processes related to policy changes and organisational initiatives where required.
- Support the management of employment tribunal claims, ACAS Early Conciliation cases, and other formal disputes.
Manager Capability and Development
- Design and deliver training for managers on employee relations best practice, including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, and performance management.
- Coach managers and HR colleagues to build confidence and capability in managing people issues effectively and fairly.
- Upskill HR team on upcoming employment law changes but also cases of interest that may influence how we work moving forwards.
Data, Insights, and Continuous Improvement
- Track and analyse employee relations data and trends to identify recurring issues and areas of organisational risk.
- Use insights to recommend improvements to policies, processes, and manager capability.
- Contribute to broader people strategy initiatives related to engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
- Acts as the central collation point for all ER activity, particularly when reporting on litigation risk.
Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with HR colleagues, and senior stakeholders.
- Engage with trade unions or employee representatives where applicable.
- Act as a trusted and impartial advisor on employee relations matters.
Skills and Experience
- Significant experience in employee relations or HR with a strong focus on ER.
- Strong knowledge of employment law and employee relations best practice.
- Proven experience managing complex and high‑risk ER cases end‑to‑end.
- Experience advising senior stakeholders on people‑related risk and decision‑making.
- Excellent investigation, analytical, and report‑writing skills.
- Strong communication and influencing capability.
- Experience working in a fast paced, multi‑site environment.
- Ability to travel across our retail estate
Personal Attributes
- Credible, objective, and professional in approach.
- Strong judgement and decision‑making ability.
- Resilient and able to operate in a fast‑paced environment.
- Pragmatic and solutions‑focused.
- Committed to fairness, consistency, and positive employee outcomes.
About Us
We’re a much‑loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts. This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you
- Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
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