Employee Relations Partner

At LTE Group we have an exciting opportunity for a Employee Relations Partner to join us, on a permanent, full time (37 hours per week) basis.

As Employee Relations Partner you will be responsible for providing specialist, high level advice and guidance to the team and managers to enable effective case management and delivery of LTE people relations processes and procedures. To decrease overall people relation cases and risks to the business, ensuring professional service maintained. Work alongside the HR Business Partners (HRBPs) to deliver best practice, commercially focused solutions, manage risk and trend analysis and reporting in partnership with the HRBP's. Develop and where appropriate deliver coaching to managers to upskill in People Management competency and as result driving down dependency on caseworkers.You'll be expected to act as an ambassador for the HR function, helping to embed the LTE values and challenging behaviour where required.

The LTE group structure encompasses the strengths of each of our individual organisations (The Manchester College, UCEN Manchester, Novus, Total People/MOL and LTE) allowing them the freedom to focus on their own learners, colleagues, stakeholders and communities, whilst providing the support and added value of a Group. Each of our 5,000 colleagues benefits from the opportunity to develop and progress their career within and across our wider Group network.

What the Employee Relations Partner role entails.

• Build good working relationships with trade union stakeholders, ensuring professionalism maintained.
• Proactively coach, provide guidance and develop Managers, in particular to actively manage performance and reduce disciplinary, grievance and absence issues through mediation and positive working relationships and outcomes (non-exhaustive)
• Coach the ER Caseworker team against delivery of business and personal objectives for career progression as well as acting as next line support to the HRSS team in terms of escalated cases and advice, particularly People Relations
• Undertake specific HR projects, creating an effective project plan and supporting the implementation in conjunction with the HR team
• To work with the ER Caseworkers, ensuring the case management system is up to date and accurate
• Provide an excellent People Relations service to managers providing advice, guidance and support in relation to a range of People Relations activities, including disciplinary, grievance, appeal and absence (non-exhaustive)
• Provide regular update reports, ensure cases are resolved in reasonable timescales and ensure the risk to the business is managed in alignment with legal and statutory requirements
• Work with internal team members to develop a suite of management information / analytics to drive Group performance and improvement
• Analyse trends in partnership with HRBPs and Head of People Relations and suggest effective solutions for implementation
• Support the implementation, review and updating of, and delivery of key HR policies and processes ensuring a progressive, proactive and professional HR service is delivered
• Facilitate and lead training workshops across HR policies and processes to upskill managers and caseworkers effectively
• Be the first point of contact for ACAS conciliation and work closely with the HRBPs and external partners to prepare for, and manage, employment tribunals, whilst consulting with Head of People Relations throughout
• To support the HRBPs to deliver the strategic business plan in managing change programmes e.g. TUPE, redundancy, managing costs, processes and procedures etc
• Managing high risk cases, where a more hands-on approach is required; suspensions & dismissals and working with managers to ensure an excellent service is provided. Supporting the HRBP's and Head of People Relations with Employment Tribunal Claims
• To coach the ER Caseworkers to provide first line advice and guidance to managers and be responsible for all escalated queries
• Undertake specific HR projects as required, supporting the HR team to continually add value
• To ensure up to date knowledge around employment law and any statutory changes that occur
• Develop constructive & professional relationships with our recognised Trade Union Representative and Officials and attend BAU and other meetings when required
• Escalating high level risk People Relation areas to the Head of People Relations for support and guidance, such as safeguarding, gross misconduct, tribunals etc (non-exhaustive)

The skills and experience required for the role of Employee Relations Partner include:

• CIPD level 5 or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience working at a HR Advisor, Employee Relations or case manager level, preferably within a multi-site organisation linked to a Shared Services environment
• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders and be a proven influencer
• Experience of delivery of operational requirements in a unionised environment
• Track record of contributing to the management of change and teams towards higher performance levels
• Track record of delivering key performance indicators.
• Experience of working with an education or training environment preferable but not essential
• High level of interpersonal, communication, influencing and coaching skills
• Ability to champion and promote new ways of working which meet the needs of the business
• Ability to analyse data and statistics to contribute to future operational and strategic initiatives and decisions
• Have a solution based approach to problem solving
• Ability to prioritise and work well under pressure
• Ability to assess risk and use sensitivity whilst dealing in confidential matters
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills

As part of the LTE Group family, you will benefit from an excellent package including:

• An excellent annual leave entitlement
• in-house 'Evolve' training programme offers you the chance to upskill and further your career through a wide range of recognised qualifications
• Career development opportunities
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounts on your health care through Simply Health
• Free, confidential support service provided by an external organisation, PAM Assist
• Cycle to work scheme saving you 25% on your purchase
• Access to lots of offers with well-known retailers
• Hybrid working

LTE Group is an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community. For more information about what we do please visit us at our company website.

If you wish to apply for this exciting opportunity, please click on the 'Apply online' button below.

All applicants must demonstrate in their application their ability to meet the Key Responsibilities, Key Result Areas and Qualifications/Skills/Experience detailed within the role profile for shortlisting purposes.

The LTE group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau. Due to the educational aspect of our group some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process.

The closing date for this role is 10/12/2024. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!