Employee Relations Manager

Employee Relations Manager
Location: Home based with travel
Salary: £55,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Reporting to: Group People Director

At Care Concern Group, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As a growing and diverse organisation, we are committed to creating a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment where our colleagues can thrive.

We are now looking for an experienced Employee Relations Manager to join our People team and play a key role in shaping and delivering our employee relations approach across the Group.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident and commercially minded HR professional who enjoys working in a complex, fast-paced environment and has significant experience of working with recognised trade unions.

The Role

As Employee Relations Manager, you will provide expert advice and guidance on a broad range of employee relations matters, while leading and developing our employee relations strategy.

You will work closely with senior leaders, operational managers, employees and trade union representatives, providing pragmatic and legally sound advice while ensuring that employee relations practices remain fair, consistent and aligned with our organisational values.

A key part of the role will be managing trade union relationships, collective bargaining, formal consultation and negotiation, including matters relating to organisational change, restructuring, pay, terms and conditions and working practices.

This is a hands-on role where your ability to build strong relationships, influence stakeholders and navigate complex and sensitive situations will be essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Group’s employee relations strategy, providing expert advice on complex and sensitive matters.
• Advise and coach managers on performance, conduct, absence, disciplinary, grievance and capability issues.
• Manage high-risk ER cases, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.
• Build constructive relationships with trade unions and lead/support collective bargaining, consultation and dispute resolution.
• Develop negotiation strategies and advise senior leaders on industrial relations risks and workforce change.
• Maintain up-to-date employment law knowledge and ensure HR policies and practices comply with legislation and collective agreements.
• Provide pragmatic advice to senior leaders, managers and HR colleagues on employment and ER matters.
• Use ER data and insight to identify risks, trends and opportunities for organisational improvement.
• Promote positive employee relations and contribute to wider People and organisational change initiatives.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations professional with a strong track record of operating within a unionised environment and managing complex employee relations matters.

You will be confident working with senior stakeholders and trade union representatives and comfortable providing clear advice in challenging and sometimes sensitive situations.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in an Employee Relations Manager, Senior Employee Relations Adviser, HR Manager or similar role.
• Proven experience managing trade union relationships and collective bargaining negotiations.
• Experience working with recognised trade unions and employee representatives within a complex or unionised organisation.
• Strong experience of formal consultation and negotiation, including organisational change and restructuring.
• Detailed knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations best practice.
• Experience managing complex disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence cases.
• Proven ability to influence, coach and develop managers at all levels.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and providing commercially sound HR advice.

Desirable Experience

• Experience managing industrial relations disputes and/or industrial action.
• Experience developing or negotiating collective agreements.
• Experience working across multiple sites or with a large and diverse workforce.
• CIPD qualified or working towards a relevant professional qualification.
• Previous experience within the care sector.

Why Join Care Concern Group?

Care Concern Group is a family-owned, market-leading care provider with a strong and growing presence across the United Kingdom.

We are committed to delivering high-quality care and developing supportive, rewarding workplaces where our teams can thrive.

Our five core values — Trust | Respect | Passion | Kindness | Inclusivity — are at the heart of everything we do, shaping the care we deliver, the way we lead and the environments we create.

If you are an experienced employee relations professional who thrives on complex challenges, builds strong relationships and brings a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now to join Care Concern Group as our Employee Relations Manager.