Senior Manager - Employee Relations - Consulting

Role Summary:

The Senior Manager - Employee Relations will act as a strategic partner to the business and HR leadership, responsible for managing complex employee relations matters, conducting investigations, advising leadership on people risk, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and organizational policies.

This role plays a critical part in maintaining a fair, compliant, and high-trust workplace by managing high-risk ER cases, advising senior leaders, strengthening ER governance frameworks, and driving proactive employee relations initiatives across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Employee Relations Case Management:

- Lead and resolve complex and high-risk employee relations cases including misconduct, grievance, performance disputes, and disciplinary actions.

- Conduct end-to-end workplace investigations and due diligence including fact-finding, interviews, documentation, and recommendation of corrective actions.

- Ensure consistent application of policies and procedures while maintaining fairness, confidentiality, and legal compliance.

2. Advisory to Business Leaders:

- Serve as a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners, senior leadership, and people managers on employee relations matters.

- Provide guidance on disciplinary processes, performance management, terminations, restructuring, and sensitive employee issues.

- Assist HC leader to coach leaders on conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and people management practices.

3. ER Framework, Governance and Policy:

- Support the design and implementation of ER governance frameworks, processes, and policies across the organization.

- Drive consistent ER practices across service lines and business units.

4. Organizational Change and Workforce Matters:

- Support business restructuring, workforce transitions, redundancy processes, and organizational changes.

- Provide ER support during large-scale workforce actions or sensitive business changes.

5. Capability Building and Training:

- Develop and deliver ER training programs for HR teams, managers, and leadership.

- Educate stakeholders on ER processes, investigation protocols, and employment law updates.

6. Data, Insights and Continuous Improvement:

- Analyze ER case trends and employee issues to identify systemic risks.

- Provide insights and recommendations to leadership to improve workplace culture and prevent recurring issues.

Stakeholder Management:

The role works closely with Business Unit Leaders and Partners.

Qualification and Experience:

- 10 - 15 years of experience in Employee Relations roles.

- Strong experience managing complex employee relations cases and workplace investigations.

- Experience in financial services, banking, consulting, or large multinational organizations preferred.

- Postgraduate degree in HR, Industrial Relations, Law, or MBA (HR) preferred.

Key Skills and Competencies:

- Employee relations and workplace investigations.

- Conflict resolution and grievance handling.

- Stakeholder management and executive advisory.

- High emotional intelligence and judgment.

- Risk management and governance.

- Confidential case handling and documentation.

Leadership Expectation:

- Ability to manage high-visibility, sensitive cases involving senior employees.

- Influence senior leadership and partners on difficult people decisions.

- Work in a matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders.

- Maintain strict confidentiality and ethical standards.