Job Description

The Employee Relations Manager is responsible for overseeing employee relations programs, ensuring a positive workplace culture, and handling effective consultation and dispute resolution within the organisation.

This role involves leadership to both full time trade union officials and employee relations specialists to develop policies, providing guidance on employment laws, addressing workplace concerns, and fostering strong employee and industrial relations engagement.

Principal Accountabilities

• Act as a point of escalation relating to concerns, grievances, and conflicts to support the effective and timely resolution.
• Mediate to support the resolution of collective workplace disputes in a timely manner.
• Lead collective consultations with Trade Unions and support the Head of Employee Relations with matters of negotiation to support effective employee relationships.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the function to develop and improve products and services in support of promoting positive employee relations, employee engagement and employee experience.
• Implement and update employee relations policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with employment law, industry regulations, employee experience and best practice.
• Provide guidance on complex and high-risk disciplinary actions, terminations, and performance matters to support effective governance and oversight.
• Serve as trusted adviser to directors and senior leaders on employee relations matters.
• Track and analyse employee relations metrics, identifying trends and areas for improvement such as exit interview, surveys, case management.
• Provide training on employee relations best practices, employment law updates and company policies to improve capability and upskill the employee relations team, People function and wider business (as needed).
• Work across the People Function and business leadership to promote and enhance employee engagement and employee experience aligned to employee value proposition.
• Educate managers on effective conflict resolution and performance management techniques.
• Work collaboratively with the company Legal teams to provide effective risk management for ER cases and any litigation obligations.

Authorities & Dimensions

• Leadership and Line Management Responsibility
• No direct budget responsibility
• Deputise for the Head of Employee Relations and Experience as required

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field / CIPD Level 7 Accreditation
• Broad experience in employee relations, HR management, or a related field.
• Experienced in industrial relations, working with trade unions on matters of consultation and negotiation.
• Ability to apply commercial awareness / business acumen to strengthen employee relations practices.
• Demonstrable experience of leading change initiatives and projects
• In depth knowledge of employment laws, employee regulations, and HR best practices.
• Excellent conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism.
• Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working with HR information systems and employee relations case management tools.

Desirable Skills

• Certifications in Mediation and or Coaching.
• Public sector employee and industrial relations experience.

Additional Information

• Open VN
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Contact/s: Jayne Gilfillan

The interviews for this vacancy are expected take place from the 3rd October 2025.

ASW’s may have the right to apply for internal Sellafield Ltd vacancies. Please note if you are an Agency Supplied Worker you are required to attach evidence of all qualifications obtained to support your application. We require a minimum of A*-C GCSE in English, Maths & Science/IT or equivalent / higher qualification.

If you choose to apply for this role and your application is shortlisted by the hiring manager, you will be invited to a competency based interview. In the interview, you will be assessed against the below competencies:

Behavioural:
3.1.3 – Problem Solving
3.1.6 – Collaboration and Teamworking
3.3.2 – Effective Communication

Technical:
37.1 Consultation and Negotiation

Please see link to the competency framework for further information:
https://slportal.ssa-intra.net/pub/SC001/00027/Competency%20Framework/Forms/AllItems.aspx

If your technical competency is not in the above framework, please refer to the profession’s share point page for further information.

Sellafield Ltd are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3). Disability Confident employers offer an interview to disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. Sellafield Ltd define the minimum criteria as the ‘essential skills’ which are listed on the vacancy notice. Whilst completing your application form, you will be able to indicate if you wish to be considered under the disability confident scheme. If you would prefer to discuss this directly with us, please contact the GBS Recruitment team on recruitment@sellafieldcloud.co.uk.

Please ensure that you save a copy of this advert for future reference if you make an application for this role.