Join to apply for the Employee Relations Manager role at British Council.
Location: UK offices in (London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, and those 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.
* 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays.
* 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, restructuring 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.
Role‑Specific Knowledge and Experience
* 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.
* 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.
Seniority Level
Mid‑Senior level.
Employment Type
Full‑time.
Job Function and Industries
Human Resources.
Industries: Non‑profit Organizations, Civic and Social Organizations, Human Resources Services.
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