Employee Relations Manager (12-18 Month Secondment/FTC)

Job Description

Join us, be part of more.

We’re so much more than an energy company. We’re a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That’s why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it.

In this role, you will manage a high volume of complex Employee Relations (ER) cases in a fast-paced environment. You will provide strategic and operational employee relations support to leaders at all levels of seniority, ensuring the effective resolution of complex cases and the consistent application of policies. The role exists to minimise legal, financial and reputational risk, strengthen manager capability, and create a positive, high performing workplace

• Location: Any Centrica Office | Hybrid Working - travel as required

• We have 4 positions available on a 12-18 Month Secondment or FTC basis

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a strategic ER partner for designated business areas, ensuring decisions and case strategies align with business objectives, stakeholder priorities and risk appetite

• Ensure consistent, timely and robust ER processes, with a strong emphasis on colleague experience, compliance with our policies and UK employment law, and transparent decision-making

• Enhance leadership capability through upskill sessions, coaching and support, and drive usage of the self-serve tools available to equip leaders to manage people-related issues effectively and confidently

• Ensure leaders take accountability for the decisions that they make, that they have the required capability and skill set to deliver the right outcomes

• Represent the organisation in ACAS Early Conciliation and Employment Tribunal matters, developing case strategies, preparing documentation and advising legal representatives where required

• Ensure accurate recording, data integrity and audit-quality case documentation within our secure case management system

• Influence culture and behaviours through ER best practice, modelling fair and equitable decision-making

• Provide ER input to key projects and business initiatives, either on a case management basis or as part of a project team alongside other members of the people team and shared services colleagues from other areas

Here's what looking for:

• This role requires strong analytical thinking and sound judgement to resolve complex and sensitive ER issues

• While guided by employment law and our policies, the ER Manager must interpret these frameworks, assess risk, and guide leaders to reach practical, fair solutions in situations where there may be no clear precedent or policy to follow

• The role demands critical reasoning, the ability to develop tailored solutions, and the confidence to recommend a clear course of action in situations where there is no obvious or standard approach

• An established HR professional with a passion for ER and a strong background in the specialism

• Extensive experience coaching and influencing leaders at all levels, with the confidence to challenge and guide decision-making

• Strong grasp of UK employment law and its practical application

• Demonstrable experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases, including dismissals, discrimination, whistleblowing and dispute resolution

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to quickly build strong and effective working relationships, delivering service excellence

• Tenacious and enjoy working in a fast paced environment with the ability to independently prioritise and manage a high-volume caseload

• Self organised with the ability to work independently, demonstrating sound judgement with minimal supervision

• Strong analytical capability to interpret data, assess risk and apply commercially-sound judgement

• Strong background in ER within a large and ideally unionised environment

• Passion for continuous improvement with proven experience in implementing improved ways of working

• Whilst business expertise is not a necessity understand business unit ways of working, contractual and policy arrangements is critical

• A CIPD qualification is preferred but not necessary

Why should you apply?

We’re not a perfect place – but we’re a people place. Our priority is supporting all of the different realities our people face. Life is about so much more than work. We get it. That’s why we’ve designed our total rewards to give you the flexibility to choose what you need, when you need it, making sure that you and your family are supported not only financially, but physically and emotionally too. Visit the link below to discover why we’re a great place to work and what being part of more means for you.

https://www.morethanacareer.energy/centrica

If you're full of energy, fired up about sustainability, and ready to craft not only a better tomorrow, but a better you, then come and find your purpose in a team where your voice matters, your growth is non-negotiable, and your ambitions are our priority.

Help us, help you. We would love for you to share any information about yourself throughout our recruitment process so that we can better understand you and help shape your journey.