Employee Relations Manager

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a Great Place to Work for the sixth year running.

Job Title: Employee Relations Manager

Location: Bolton | Hybrid Working

Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday

Salary: Up to £50,000 (dependent on experience)

Contract: Full Time | Permanent

UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About us

Outcomes First Group is the largest independent provider of high-quality special needs education and care in the UK. We deliver research-led, personalised education that helps every child thrive.

Our vision is to empower every child with a world-class education that nurtures potential and inspires lifelong learning. Our mission is to unlock that potential through personalised learning and opportunity, and our promise is simple: we listen, work together, and hold each other accountable to make the remarkable happen.

About the Role

The Employee Relations (ER) Manager plays a pivotal leadership role within our central People Services function, with responsibility for shaping and delivering high-impact people strategies that support organisational performance and cultural excellence.

Leading the advisory function and provides senior oversight of employee relations, policy development, case management, and ER analytics. You will act as the final escalation point for complex ER matters, while driving continuous improvement through insight-led decision-making, process optimisation, and strong collaboration with HR Business Partners and senior stakeholders.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Outcomes First Group’s HR transformation journey and to influence meaningful, organisation-wide change within a values-led environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and develop the People Services advisory function, ensuring high-quality, consistent and proactive support
• Own and develop HR dashboards and people analytics, generating actionable insights to inform divisional and organisational strategies
• Analyse trends across ER, absence, turnover and performance data to identify risks, gaps and opportunities
• Embed people insights into the Quarterly Performance Review (QPR) process to support strategic planning
• Lead the development, implementation and review of HR policies, ensuring legal compliance and organisational alignment
• Act as the final escalation point for complex employee relations cases, including ACAS conciliation and Employment Tribunal representation
• Oversee the case management framework to ensure fair, timely and consistent case outcomes
• Partner with leaders to strengthen leadership capability, accountability and confidence in people decision-making
• Use ER data to inform improvements across recruitment, onboarding and induction processes
• Lead, coach and upskill People Advisors, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development
• Act as a subject matter expert in employment law, HR policy and best practice
• Contribute to HR-led projects such as system enhancements, policy transformation and organisational change initiatives
• Ensure all people activity aligns with safeguarding, compliance and statutory requirements

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience in a HR generalist or employee relations leadership role
• Strong ER background, including managing complex and sensitive cases
• In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience leading, coaching and developing HR advisory teams
• Strong analytical capability with experience using HR data to drive improvement
• Ability to influence, challenge and partner effectively with senior stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience supporting HR transformation or continuous improvement initiatives
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and experience using HR systems

Desirable

• Experience working within education, care, or similarly regulated environments
• Experience supporting large, multi-site or geographically dispersed organisations
• Project management experience within an HR function
• Experience contributing to HR system or process redesign

Why Join Us?

Outcomes First Group is the UK’s largest independent provider of high-quality special needs education, operating across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools, and Momenta Connect.

By joining our central HR team as an HR Manager, you’ll play a key role in shaping people strategy, strengthening leadership capability, and driving operational excellence across a growing organisation. We value collaboration, professionalism and innovation, and offer the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while staying true to our core values of care, aspiration and inclusion.

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with flexible contribution options
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental and physical health support
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Flexible benefits via Vista, including discounts, Cycle to Work scheme, Electric Car scheme, critical illness cover, and more

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes.

All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.