ER Manager at British Council

London, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Apr, 26

Salary

3300.0

Posted On

09 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Data Literacy, People Advocacy, Execution Excellence, Industrial Relations, Employment Law, Policy Development, Stakeholder Management, Interpersonal Skills, Analytical Skills, Cultural Sensitivity, Planning, Accountability, Delivery Under Pressure

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire. British Council Pay Band 8 Department: Employee Relations Location: UK offices in (London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, and anyone on pre-existing homeworking contracts in the UK) Contract: Fixed Term Contract, Duration 12 months (extendable by mutual agreement) Apply by: Sunday,18th Jan 2026 23:59 Local time Interview window: To be discussed later The starting salary for this role is negotiable based on skills, and expertise. In addition, there will be an annual LMA of £3,300 for London based candidates. Benefits: 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays 3 days volunteering leave Career average defined benefit pension scheme This role is open to applicants who already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Relocation and visa sponsorship are not available. The British Council supports flexible working, including hybrid arrangements, subject to line manager approval and operational requirements. Role Context Situated within the Global Employee Relations (ER) function—an HR Centre of Expertise—the role contributes to a small UK-based team that offers professional support on ER issues including change projects, including restructure and redundancy, as well as guidance to managers on people management issues. As the HR model undergoes strategic review to enhance sustainability, agility, and effectiveness, the role will work closely with the Head of ER Case Management within the ER Centre of Expertise to support organisational transformation and uphold ER standards. This role reports to the Director of Employee Relations providing expert guidance on employee consultation, redundancy, and staff association matters, and collaborates with the Global Reward team on policies with contractual implications such as flexible working, maternity leave, and international assignments. The role also advises on and submits FCDO and Cabinet Office business cases related to settlements, enhanced redundancy, UK redundancies, and high-value exits. They also manage the relationship with the external reporting line provider (currently Navex) and line manage the ER Data Specialist, ensuring all internal and external data reporting requirements are met. Main responsibilities Consultation Support: Provide expert guidance on UK and EWC consultations related to redundancies and policy changes. Policy & Practice Review: Support development of non-concern-related policies and continuously review ER practices for legal compliance, relevance, and benchmarking. Advisory & Approvals: Review and advise on novel, contentious, and non-contractual payments prior to internal and FCDO business case submissions; manage UK Cabinet Office approvals for redundancy schemes and high value exits. Data Oversight: Ensure timely, accurate collation and analysis of ER data, identifying trends and maintaining consistency for internal and external reporting. Hotline Management: Oversee the external hotline provider contract, ensuring effective triage of concerns in collaboration with Counter-Fraud, Safeguarding, and ER Case Management teams. Role-Specific Skills Data Literacy: Applies data insights to guide decisions and improve practices. People Advocacy: Promotes an inclusive, wellbeing-focused culture and ensures ethical compliance while mitigating people-related risks. Execution Excellence: Delivers results through adaptive planning, practical problem-solving, and strong interpersonal collaboration. (Proficiency: Developing) Role specific knowledge and experience Minimum/essential Proven experience in industrial relations and applying employment law across varied contexts within unionised organisations Strong policy development skills with ability to write clear, globally applicable guidance Experience managing legal relationships (internal and external) Proficient in data analysis and reporting to inform decision-making Effective stakeholder management and alignment Strong interpersonal and influencing skills; able to challenge constructively Excellent planning, accountability, and delivery under pressure Insightful, analytical, and culturally sensitive in complex environments Desirable Familiarity with UK employment legal and regulatory frameworks Skilled in interpreting UK Government requirements related to public funds Education and Professional Qualification Degree or certification in UK Employment Law Language Requirements The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities. Safeguarding Statement The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children. If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Responsibilities

The role provides expert guidance on employee relations issues, including redundancies and policy changes, while supporting organizational transformation. It also involves managing data oversight and external hotline provider contracts.