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.
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