ER Partner
| Posting date: | 03 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50,000.0 to £55,000.0 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £50,000 - £55,000 DOE |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 February 2026 |
| Location: | Bolton, Greater Manchester, m1 4bt |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 4767744_1770151113 |
Summary
Your New Company
You'll be joining a well‑established, forward‑thinking organisation with a strong people‑focused culture. The business is committed to empowering leaders, strengthening capability, and fostering a positive employee experience. As part of a highly regarded Employee Relations function, you'll play a key role in shaping ER practice and supporting leaders across a diverse and dynamic workforce.
Your New Role
As an Employee Relations Partner, you'll act as a trusted expert, providing high‑quality advice, coaching and guidance to people leaders and HR colleagues across the full spectrum of employee relations. You'll take ownership of complex cases, support litigation where required, and proactively identify ER trends and risks to drive meaningful improvements across the organisation.
This is a collaborative, consultative role where you'll influence, educate and build capability, ensuring leaders feel confident and equipped to manage people matters effectively.
Responsibilities:
- Provide expert ER advice, guidance and coaching to people leaders and HR business partners.
- Manage a varied caseload, including complex and high‑risk cases, through to resolution.
- Support litigation processes, working closely with internal stakeholders and external legal partners.
- Develop capability across the business through coaching, learning interventions and knowledge‑sharing.
- Use ER data and MI to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Review, update and develop people policies and procedures in collaboration with HR and legal teams.
- Provide technical expertise on TUPE, organisational design, restructures, harmonisation and wider people initiatives.
- Build strong relationships with leaders, HR colleagues, unions, legal teams and external partners.
What You Need to Succeed
- Strong technical knowledge of employment law and current ER best practice.
- Proven experience managing complex ER cases, either in a specialist ER role or as an HR generalist with significant ER exposure.
- Confidence managing litigation processes and negotiating with external parties.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to listen, challenge, influence and coach effectively.
- Strong written communication skills with the ability to document sensitive information accurately.
- A collaborative approach and the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels.
- CIPD, CPD or employment law qualifications are desirable but not essential.
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.
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