Employee Relations Manager
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk preferred or London
Hybrid: 3 days per week onsite
Salary: £70,000 – £75,000 + 5% bonus
Holiday: 28 days + bank holidays (rising to 30 after 5 years)
Pension: Up to 15% employer contribution
Closing Date: Thursday 19 March 2026
About the Role
The Employee Relations Manager will lead and oversee all aspects of Employee Relations across Sizewell C, ensuring ER cases are managed promptly, fairly, and in full compliance with UK employment law and the organisation’s values. As a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners and senior leaders, you will play a critical role in creating a transparent and consistent approach to conflict resolution, workplace investigations, policy governance, and union engagement. Your expertise will help shape a positive employee experience, strengthen organisational integrity, and support Sizewell C in delivering one of the UK’s most significant energy infrastructure projects-contributing to long-term energy security and net‑zero ambitions. This is a rare opportunity to shape and define the ER function from the ground up within a highly complex, high‑profile environment.
Key Responsibilities
Conflict Resolution & Mediation
- Lead the management of complex grievances, disputes, and disciplinary matters.
- Establish and oversee consistent conflict resolution approaches.
Workplace Investigations
- Ensure robust processes are in place for sensitive investigations (e.g., misconduct, harassment, discrimination).
- Oversee preparation of formal findings and ensure compliance with legal standards.
Policy Development & Governance
- Design, review, and implement HR policies aligned with legislation and company values.
- Act as Policy Owner, leading the Sizewell C Policy Governance Group.
Employment Law & Compliance
- Act as the organisation’s subject matter expert on employment law.
- Advise on the Employment Rights Act, ACAS Codes, consultation duties, and other key regulations.
- Mitigate legal risks through proactive guidance and case oversight.
Trade Union Relations
- Maintain strong working relationships with Trade Unions.
- Support collective conversations and attend the Partnership Organisation Group (POG).
- Provide expert support on union‑involved cases.
Coaching & Leadership Support
- Train and advise managers on performance management, communication, and ER best practice.
- Provide guidance to HRBPs throughout the ER lifecycle.
Engagement, Culture & Insights
- Use data from pulse surveys, ER metrics, and exit interviews to inform improvement initiatives.
- Identify trends and drive positive workplace initiatives.
External Legal Stakeholder Management
- Own the relationship between Sizewell C and external legal advisors.
- Manage the annual legal budget (c. £100k), ensuring appropriate and timely use of advice.
ER Process Mapping
- Lead the mapping and continuous improvement of the end‑to‑end ER process.
- Provide structured guidance to HR Business Partners on best practice workflows.
Reporting & Data
- Capture ER trends and deliver Management Information to senior leadership for visibility and action.
Workforce Complexity
You’ll provide ER expertise across a diverse and challenging workforce, including:
- Permanent employees
- Contingent workers
- Third‑party contractors
- Workers based overseas
- Multi‑partner ecosystems within a major national infrastructure project
Essential Requirements
- Degree‑level qualification (or equivalent) in HR, Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, or Employment Law.
- Strong, demonstrable experience in Employee Relations within a complex corporate or industrial environment.
- Deep applied knowledge of UK employment legislation.
- Experience working with Trade Unions on ER cases and consultations.
- Experience mapping ER processes and improving ER frameworks.
- Ability to manage complex ER cases independently and confidently.
Desirable Requirements
- Industry experience in construction, infrastructure, engineering, or manufacturing.
- Experience working on large‑scale projects with mixed workforces (employees, contractors, contingent labour).
- Strong interpersonal skills: empathy, neutrality, resilience, and calm under pressure.
- Analytical capability with experience using HRIS / SAP and case management tools.
- Experience leading or conducting workplace investigations.
Why Join Sizewell C?
- Play a defining role in a nationally significant infrastructure project powering millions of homes.
- Shape a new ER function and influence organisational culture from day one.
- Work in a highly complex, dynamic environment that will accelerate your ER career.
- Contribute to the UK’s long‑term energy security and net‑zero commitments.
- Enjoy excellent development opportunities and the chance to work with industry‑leading experts.
Are you ready to Make an Impact?
If you thrive in complex environments, enjoy leading high‑impact ER strategy, and want to be part of one of the UK’s most ambitious projects – we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now!
Join the team at Sizewell C. Our vision is to Lead The Way On Nuclear.
At Sizewell C we encourage and embrace diversity and how it can improve our experience and performance at work. It is a requirement that those who join us have the right to work in the UK. Whilst sponsorship may be a possibility that we can explore, we are fully committed to local recruitment where possible, and those already holding the right to work in the UK.
To be appointed to this role, you will need to meet the criteria for Security Vetting, which will ordinarily require you to have been a resident of the UK for at least three of the past five years.
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