ER Officer (Advisor)


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£32,000 to £34,600 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M1 4BT
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	19 Sept 2026
Closing date:	10 Oct 2026

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Summary

A large, values-led organisation currently recruiting an Employee Relations Officer on a fixed-term basis initially. Joining a well-established People team, you will work alongside a dedicated Employee Relations function. This opportunity would suit a HR professional who enjoys managing employee relations casework, building strong relationships with managers and delivering a high-quality people service.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further develop their employee relations expertise within a supportive and collaborative environment, where learning and development is actively encouraged.

Immediate start available.

The Role

As Employee Relations Officer, you will be responsible for managing a range of employee relations matters and supporting managers across the organisation with practical, timely guidance.

Your responsibilities will include:

Managing lower level employee relations cases from initial enquiry through to conclusion.

Providing advice and support on absence management, disciplinary, grievance and performance-related matters.

Triaging employee relations queries through a central case management system and ensuring cases are allocated appropriately.

Coordinating and processing occupational health referrals and supporting managers with recommendations and outcomes.

Advising managers on policies, procedures and best-practice approaches to people management.

Supporting investigations, meetings and hearings relating to employee relations matters.

Maintaining accurate documentation and case records in line with policy and data protection requirements.

Escalating more complex cases to the senior Employee Relations team where required.

Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance the employee experience and service delivery.

About You

We are keen to speak with candidates who have a solid HR foundation and previous experience supporting employee relations activity. You will ideally bring:

Experience handling employee relations casework across areas such as absence, performance, disciplinary and grievance. (ESSENTIAL)

Strong communication skills, with the confidence to support managers through sensitive conversations.

Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload.

A customer-focused and proactive approach to problem-solving.

Knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.

Experience working within a large or complex organisation would be advantageous.

CIPD qualification, or progress towards one, would be beneficial, although relevant practical experience will also be considered.

Candidates who have managed absence, grievance, disciplinary and performance cases from start to finish will be of particular interest, although experience managing every stage of a formal disciplinary process is not essential.

What's on Offer

Pension: Enhanced employer contribution.

Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays + Christmas shutdown (24 Dec - 5 Jan)

Flexible Working: 3 days on-site, 2 remote.

35 hour working week.

Extras: Benefits platforms, student discounts plus others.

Potential for further opportunity and development within the wider organisation.

Exposure to a broad range of HR casework and stakeholder groups.

What you need to do now:

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

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