Employee Relations Manager – Fixed Term Contract

Cooper Parry

. Provide expert employee relations guidance to managers, leaders and senior stakeholders .

Posted 9/25/2026contractDerby • United KingdomMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide expert employee relations guidance to managers, leaders and senior stakeholders
Lead complex and high-risk employee relations activity
Act as a senior point of contact for grievances, disciplinaries, performance, sickness absence, capability, restructures, visa-related considerations and sensitive workplace issues
Lead and oversee investigations into complaints, workplace incidents and policy breaches
Provide advice on ER outcomes, sanctions and risk mitigation
Work with occupational health and specialist support providers
Support workplace needs assessments and reasonable adjustment plans
Analyse ER trends, identify root causes and recommend proactive interventions
Advise and support acquisitions and related legislative processes
Design, develop and deliver practical ER training for managers and leaders
Coach, challenge and guide managers through difficult conversations, performance reviews and disciplinary processes
Update training materials to reflect HR policy and legal changes
Monitor employment legislation, case law, regulatory updates and best practice
Review and improve ER policies, procedures, templates and training materials
Build relationships with People Business Partners, senior leaders and managers across service lines
Lead or support ER-related projects and initiatives
Mentor, support and line manage members of the ER team
Work with employment law advisors in the UK, South Africa and the Philippines
Track, analyse and interpret ER data and provide reports on grievances, disciplinary activity, sickness absence, case duration, outcomes, risk levels and colleague feedback
Lead continuous improvement across ER processes, policies, governance, reporting and systems

Requirements

What you’ll need

Strong technical ER expertise with the confidence to advise on complex, sensitive and high-risk cases
Commercial, solution-focused mindset with sound judgement and a balanced approach to risk
Ability to influence, coach and challenge managers and senior stakeholders with credibility
Proven ability to mentor, develop and line manage others, setting clear expectations and supporting high-quality ER delivery
Able to work at pace, prioritise effectively and manage multiple complex cases, projects and stakeholder needs
High resilience, discretion and professionalism when handling confidential and sensitive matters
Knowledge of employment legislation, case law, regulatory updates and HR best practice
Ability to advise on grievances, disciplinaries, performance, sickness absence, capability, restructures, visa-related considerations and sensitive workplace issues
Ability to monitor employment obligations and ensure compliance with UK and overseas legislation
Ability to work with employment law advisors in the UK, South Africa and the Philippines

Benefits

Comp & perks

A flexible approach to work - balancing working from home, in office or with clients
A generous holiday entitlement
An enhanced parental leave policy
An enhanced pension scheme
No dress code – just “wear something!”
A multi-award-winning wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental, spiritual, and financial health
Volunteering opportunities to work closer with local communities and charities
Cooper Parry social/sports clubs
Support for developing skills and achieving your best
Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility/accommodations support