Employee Relations Manager

De Montfort University (DMU) is an ambitious, globally minded institution with a clear focus on delivering high-quality teaching and research. A culturally rich university with a strong commitment to the public good, it strives to maintain a stimulating, innovative and inclusive environment where staff and students can thrive.

Faculty / Directorate

This is a really exciting time to be joining DMU. The People Services team has been through a period of change and we have several roles available to support the advancement of our ambitious Empowering University strategy. Being part of a thriving and energetic team, you would join our new directorate and help us to deliver a key pillar of our university strategy, 'Empowering People’. Our role is to enhance our employee offer in relation to leadership and management, reward and recognition, voice and experience, health and wellbeing, and to ensure our polices, processes and systems enable digital solutions, swift decision making, equal access and autonomy.

People Services has a rich portfolio including people partnering, policy and employee relations, wellbeing, international, pay and reward, operations and support hub, as well as talent, learning and organisational development. Our directorate’s ambition is to provide high quality professional people services, working together to enhance the lives of our current and future employees so that they can deliver an excellent student experience. We strive to provide a great experience for colleagues, so they enjoy being at work and are able to achieve their potential.

Role

As the Employee Relations Manager at De Montfort University (DMU), you will play a pivotal role in providing expert guidance and support on a wide range of HR issues to university leaders and managers. Supported by two Senior Advisors, you will lead the HR Advisory team in delivering effective solutions to complex employment matters, and ensuring a safe and compliant, but customer-focused service is maintained throughout.

You will oversee all employee relations (ER) casework activity, including matters related to conduct, performance, absence management, and change initiatives. Additionally, you will act as the lead officer for managing employment tribunals and internal appeals processes, working diligently to mitigate risks on behalf of the university.

You will also play a key role in collaborating closely with stakeholders to shape employment policies and procedures and you will contribute to broader HR leadership initiatives, including promoting DMU values and the Directorate’s focus on health and wellbeing and employee experience. Integral to the role is leading a coaching approach to supporting managers and enabling the university’s ambition of empowerment.

Overall, this role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on employee relations at DMU and contribute to the university's ongoing commitment to excellence and inclusivity.

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Employee Relations Manager to lead our HR Advisory team in providing expert guidance and support to university leaders and managers. You will be passionate about employment law and have a keen interest in best practice and technical case law. You must have a solid background in handling complex HR issues, including conduct, performance, attendance management, grievance resolution, and change management. A background in higher education would enable you to hit the ground running, but a candidate who can easily adapt to working in an academic environment would equally be welcome.

You may not be in a managerial role just yet, but you must demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. Effective communication and relationship-building skills are also essential, as the role involves liaising with key stakeholders both within People Services and across the university to deliver people focused solutions, seek feedback and address concerns effectively. A commitment to continual improvement and a drive to ensure all employees are treated with dignity and respect is fundamental

Interviews will take place week commencing 29th April 2024.