Employee Relations Manager

at  JGP Resourcing

ABOUT THE BOROUGH

Joining us, you get to work for not just one high performing London Borough, but two.
Kingston and Sutton councils have a number of shared services serving both authorities, with some teams and roles more focussed on one council than the other, but the majority are shared across both, meaning you get multiple opportunities to learn from a wider pool of activities and two different political bodies.
We work flexibly in both Kingston and Sutton offices, and support working at home or flexible working patterns that enable you to tailor your working and personal life. We provide the equipment and tools to enable you to work flexibly, and in return ask you to use that flexibility to be creative and ambitious in the services we deliver.
There are some really exciting things happening in both boroughs. In Sutton, we are developing the London Cancer Hub, a world leading cancer research and treatment hub that will bring together professionals from across different sectors to identify and test new treatments and therapies. Over in Kingston, we are undertaking the largest housing regeneration programme ever delivered in the borough, building new energy efficient housing that will transform some of our oldest Council owned housing. Both boroughs have publicly committed to doing what they can to tackle the climate emergency and are investing in new technologies and societal change that will help bring carbon emissions down and improve our climate impact.
You should choose Kingston and Sutton if you are looking for an opportunity that will challenge you to deliver more, support you to achieve personal ambitions, and expect you to put borough residents at the heart of what you do.
Kingston is a beautiful Royal borough with a historic setting on the banks of the Thames with excellent schools and a bustling retail centre, all surrounded by open green spaces such as Richmond Park and Bushey Park, former recreation grounds for Tudor Kings and Queens. The Council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat Administration and has a council plan “Greener, Fairer, Safer, Together”, that sets out a vision to be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive borough where residents are active, empowered, engaged and able to remain independent and resilient. The Council engages with residents through a number of forums and events through the year, and like Sutton plays a leading role in developing the South West Region of London.
Sutton is a well connected attractive part of London that has a reputation for excellent schools, green and leafy open spaces, and a history that drives a thriving heritage and culture offer through our museums and libraries. The Council is controlled by a long established Liberal Democrat Administration and has high ambitions set out in its corporate plan “Ambitious for Sutton”, that will ensure Sutton remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. The Council plays a leading role in a number of local partnerships and places great emphasis on engaging effectively with its residents, listening to local voices and making their message heard across London Government.

ABOUT US

As Employee Relations Manager - Schools Team , you will play a key role in a team of skilled ER Managers, working together to support schools and academies in creating excellent working environments. This is a collaborative position where you will contribute to delivering professional, balanced, legal and policy-aligned advice on a range of complex HR issues.

This role isn’t about managing a team but about working as part of one. You’ll engage with headteachers and governors, school business managers helping to shape proactive HR strategies that foster great leadership, employee engagement, skills development and positive outcomes for the staff, their pupils and schools performance. Your responsibilities will include providing expert advice on restructuring, employee relations casework, interpreting and writing policies, whilst contributing to the ongoing development of HR practices, that align with strategic and cultural goals across schools and traded partners. You will be part of a Council HR & OD shared service.

We’re looking for a forward-thinking, people-focused professional with a deep understanding of employee relations and a proven track record of managing restructures and HR challenges in diverse and complex environments. The ideal candidate will:

• Have significant experience in employee relations casework and advising at all levels of management.
• Be confident in fostering strong relationships with unions, staff, and leadership teams.
• Demonstrate expertise in change management, including restructuring and TUPE.
• Develop strategies and enable cultural development, with a focus on EDI, engagement, leadership and collaboration.
• Work effectively within a team of ER Managers to deliver a high-quality, customer-focused HR service.
• Update and write policies and guidance, to meet legal requirements and set out clear roles and responsibilities.
• Embrace technology and innovation to enhance service provision and create efficiencies.