Senior ER Advisor


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£44,000 to £47,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M1 4BT
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	19 Sept 2026
Closing date:	10 Oct 2026

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Summary

Hays Human Resources are delighted to be supporting a respected organisation in Manchester to recruit an experienced Senior Employee Relations Advisor on a temporary basis, for a 3-month period (likely to extend).

The position sits within a specialist Employee Relations team and will play a key role in ensuring the consistent application of employment legislation, people policies and best practice across the organisation. The role focusses on complex employee relations casework, organisational change support and coaching managers through sensitive people matters.

The role will suit an individual who is comfortable operating autonomously, partnering with managers and stakeholders, and navigating challenging employee relations issues with confidence and credibility.

The Role

As a Senior Employee Relations Advisor, you will provide expert guidance and practical support on a broad range of employee relations matters, helping leaders make fair, informed and legally compliant decisions. Key responsibilities will include:

Managing complex employee relations cases from initial consultation through to resolution.

Providing specialist advice on disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance, conduct and workplace dignity matters.

Supporting and coaching managers through investigations, hearings and appeals.

Advising on organisational change, restructures, consultations and workforce-related projects.

Building effective relationships with senior stakeholders and trade union representatives.

Supporting the review and development of people policies, procedures and management guidance.

Identifying trends and risks through employee relations data and recommending appropriate interventions.

Promoting consistency, fairness and compliance across all employee relations activity.

About You

We are keen to speak with experienced HR professionals who have a strong background within complex employee relations and enjoy operating in a fast-paced environment. To be successful, you will be able to demonstrate:

Significant experience managing complex employee relations cases independently.

Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Experience supporting managers through formal processes and sensitive workplace issues.

A confident and credible approach to stakeholder management and influencing.

Experience supporting organisational change and consultation activity.

Strong judgement, resilience and attention to detail.

Excellent communication and coaching skills.

CIPD qualification, study towards CIPD, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience within a unionised environment would be particularly advantageous, although candidates from other complex organisational settings will also be considered.

What's on Offer

Salary up to £47,000.

Hybrid working arrangements. (2 days on-site per week in Manchester centre).

Opportunity to work on varied and complex employee relations matters.

Exposure to organisational change and strategic people initiatives.

A supportive, diverse and collaborative People team environment.

Immediate start opportunity.

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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