Employee Relations Manager

Our Employee Relations team are experts at supporting the business at finding successful solutions to employee relations issues ensuring best practice by using business and employment law knowledge. We are now looking for an Employee Relations & Policy Manager to lead our established team. 

Reporting to our CPO, and leading our team of Employee Relations Specialists and Advisors who provide a high quality and consistent service across the business, this role sets the strategic vision for the function, ensuring best practice, internal policies and legal compliance is adhered to at all times. 

About the role
As the Employee Relations & Policy Manager, you will be the gatekeeper to success for our Employee Relations Team. Providing guidance to the wider business, you will develop and work to best practice and policies, ensuring your team are kept up to speed with legalities, business activities and any changes to policies. 

You will support your team in managing their caseloads, as well as being the main point of escalation and key contact for any sensitive or senior ER activity. You will also be the sponsorship license holder for the company, ensuring that all sponsorships are processed correctly and in line current legislation. 

You will also: 

• Play a key role in the maintenance of constructive trade union relations. Supports as required during annual pay talks. Take the lead in resolution of industrial disputes and business continuity planning for industrial action.
• Be accountable for the management / mitigation of risk relating to ER activity across the business liaising with key internal stakeholders from Legal, Security, Corporate Affairs etc.
• Lead on planning of significant/complex restructures / transformation programmes.
• Develop and deliver a program of education and awareness which supports building capability, reducing organisational risk and reinforces a culture of performance / behaviour management that optimizes business performance.
• Proactively identify opportunities to drive change, efficiency, reduce costs and business process improvements.

About you
You will be a subject matter expert in employee relations and policy management, working at a senior level. Hailing from a large and/or complex business, you will have successfully partnered with internal teams from a variety of business areas – for example Retail, Head Office and Distribution. You will have coached leaders across your business in management and resolving conflict. 

You will be cool, calm and collected in nature, able to make informed and fair decisions whilst giving expert guidance across all business areas. You will be both resilient and optimistic, with a resourceful mindset and leadership skills, able to drive your team to success. As an adaptable and proactive leader, you will be able to demonstrate how you have advised, coached and guided direct reports to create a high performance culture.  

You will also possess:

• Expert knowledge of Employment Law. 
• Experience in resolving complex cases.
• Working knowledge of re-orgs and other sensitive activity.
• Experience within a unionised business.  
• A data driven approach. 
• Expectational leadership skills. 
• Specialist knowledge of disciplinaries and grievances. 

About Us
Harrods is one of the world’s leading luxury department stores and we’re becoming a destination for top designers, and the most sought-after brands from around the globe. Our combined mission is to make visiting our iconic Knightsbridge store one of the world’s most inspiring shopping experiences.

Our Promise to You
 Help us make the impossible possible for our customers and we’ll do something remarkable for you. As well as offering a friendly environment to inspire your best work, we provide abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the varied specialisms of our business.

In return you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including a company pension, flexible working, eligibility for a competitive bonus, 25 days’ holiday, and your birthday off, up to 33% in-store discount (including across our food hall and restaurants) and a season ticket loan.

Uniquely You
At Harrods we believe the personality and authenticity of our people sets us apart. We celebrate and invite applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes, and experiences and are proud of our culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique makes us exceptional.

If you want to know more about our people and our culture, search #TogetherHarrods on LinkedIn, Facebook or follow us on Instagram @togetherharrods