ER Manager

ER Manager
£57,500 to £74000 plus great benefits (Work Level 5) 
You can be based anywhere - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and some travelling to our Manchester office and other Co-op locations as required (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).  

We’re looking for an experienced Employee Relations Manager to join our team and play a key role in shaping how we work to deliver our broad and busy ER agenda. You’ll provide expert guidance on complex ER issues, support major change activity across the business, and help ensure we maintain strong, constructive relationships at every level. If you enjoy solving problems, influencing senior stakeholders and making a real impact through fair, consistent people practices, this could be the ideal next step in your career.

Why this role matters

In this role you’ll play a crucial part in supporting Co op through transformation, ensuring we’re delivering for the business while protecting the colleague experience and maintaining positive union engagement. You’ll advise leaders on significant ER activity, contribute to our ER strategy, and help manage consultation, negotiation and change processes across the organisation. Your work will directly influence how effectively and fairly we navigate organisational change, manage risks and build trust with our union partners.

What you’ll do

•    Provide expert ER advice and guidance to leaders, People Partners and operational teams across a range of complex issues
•    Build strong, constructive relationships with senior trade union representatives and support collective bargaining and consultation activity, including within major change programmes 
•    Support the delivery and interpretation of ER frameworks, agreements and policies, ensuring they are legally compliant and aligned to business needs 
•    Work with senior stakeholders to plan and deliver ER activity linked to organisational change, including consultation meetings, negotiations and colleague communications 
•    Provide ER support on acquisitions, disposals or other non‑BAU activity, helping ensure consistency and compliance 
•    Assess ER risks, understand emerging union agendas and help shape our internal response and strategy
•    Act as a trusted ER partner, influencing decision‑making and helping leaders navigate complex scenarios with clarity and confidence
•    Support colleagues across the wider ER team by sharing expertise, coaching and contributing to consistent ways of working

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Proven experience in a senior HR or ER role, with the ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels
•    A good awareness of trade union frameworks and how collective consultation and negotiation operate in practice
•    Confidence to challenge, influence and negotiate with senior colleagues to reach balanced, workable solutions
•    The ability to work independently, manage complex issues proactively and navigate ambiguity
•    Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess risk and offer clear, practical guidance
•    Experience setting up and advising on consultation processes during restructures or organisation‑wide change
•    A solid understanding of employment legislation and effective change management approaches 
•    Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with credibility at all levels of the organisation

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Private healthcare
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion