Employee Relations Manager Fixed Term Contract (6 - 12 Months)

Job summary

CCW is the passionate, independent voice representing water consumers in England & Wales. We support thousands of people each year, providing free advice and helping people to resolve their complaints with their water company in an easy, caring way. We champion everyone’s needs and interests, completing and showcasing research that influences water companies, government, and regulators to make change happen.

Job description

Job Purpose:

The Employee Relations Manager plays a key role in supporting a positive working environment by providing expert advice, guidance, and support on all aspects of employee relations. This includes managing complex casework, leading on policy development and implementation, and supporting managers and staff through change processes. The postholder will ensure compliance with employment law, organisational policies, and best practice, fostering a culture of fairness, inclusion, and high performance.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide expert advice and guidance to managers and employees on all matters relating to employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance management cases.
• Lead and manage complex employee relations casework, ensuring fair and timely resolution in line with organisational policies and procedures.
• Develop, review, and implement People policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with current legislation and best practice.
• Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, TUPE transfers, and consultation processes.
• Build effective working relationships with trade union representatives and other stakeholders, supporting constructive dialogue and partnership working.
• Deliver training and coaching to line managers on employee relations issues, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor and analyse employee relations trends, providing reports and recommendations for improvement to senior management.
• Champion and uphold CCW’s values as well as equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant employment legislation and statutory requirements.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Civil Service Competencies:

The postholder needs to demonstrate the following:

• Seeing the Big Picture: Understand how their role fits with and supports organisational objectives and public service priorities.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative solutions.
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice.
• Leading and Communicating: Communicate with clarity, conviction, and enthusiasm, supporting others to deliver results.
• Collaborating and Partnering: Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve organisational goals.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience in Human Resources.
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex employee relations casework.
• Up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and public sector HR practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to handle sensitive and challenging situations.
• Experience of developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to upholding principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Proficient IT skills, including MS Office and HR information systems.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working in a public sector organisation or similar environment.
• Experience of creating and delivering training to managers and staff.
• Familiarity with organisational change.
• CIPD Membership at Chartered level.

Personal Attributes:

• Professional, resilient, and approachable manner.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

This job description and person specification are intended as a guide to the main duties and responsibilities of the post. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the nature and grade of the role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,626, Consumer Council for Water contributes £12,348 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Annual leave entitlement starting at 25 days rising by one annually to a maximum of 30 days, plus 10.5 Bank Holidays and Privilege leave.

Benefits include Civil Service Pension, Flexitime with up to an extra 24 days off per year, Generous Annual Leave provision, Flexible Working Options, Retailer and Healthcare discounts/cashback, Travel Season Ticket Loans, Bicycle Loans, Employee Assistance Programme and much more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

If you are interested please apply using the apply tab and submit both your CV and a statement of suitability (no more than 2 pages) which outlines how your key skills and experience match to the job description and person specification, explaining your suitability for the role. Applications that do not include all this information are unlikely to be considered.

The selection process will include:

• A sift using the content of your CV and statement of suitability
• Interviews and exercise in person 4th - 11th February 2026, Birmingham location.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. If you are interested in applying, we’d encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Lisa Gregory/Laura Smurthwaite
• Email : recruitment@ccwater.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ccwater.org.uk

Further information

ccw.org.uk