Senior Manager - Employee Relations

About the role

The serves as a strategic advisor and operational owner for all employee relations matters within the organization. This role is accountable for leading complex investigations from initial intake through final resolution while ensuring consistent and fair application of company policies. The hire will independently manage a full caseload involving grievances, conflicts, and disciplinary matters, providing expert guidance to leaders and employees alike. They will coach managers through sensitive processes such as performance improvement and progressive discipline, reinforcing a culture of transparency and accountability. This position requires deep expertise in employment law to assess risk and develop robust, legally sound practices that protect the organization. The Senior Manager will also spearhead organization-wide initiatives related to change, redundancy, and transformation, coordinating with multiple stakeholders. Ultimately, this role drives the design of a fair, inclusive, and high-trust workplace by modeling sound judgment and facilitating durable conflict resolution.

Key facts

What you'll do

Serve as the central point of contact for all employee relations cases, owning the full lifecycle of grievances, complaints, conflicts, and disciplinary issues from intake through resolution.

Lead prompt, thorough, and impartial workplace investigations into allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, documenting findings and recommending appropriate corrective measures.

Advise employees and managers on the interpretation and consistent application of company policies, procedures, and applicable employment law, working in partnership with the employment legal team for guidance.

Champion and lead organization-wide Employee Relations programmes and initiatives, including managing organisational change, redundancy, and transformation activities involving multiple stakeholders.

Coach people managers through performance management, progressive discipline, and performance improvement plans, equipping them to handle difficult conversations with confidence and compliance.

Partner with People Partners and leadership to resolve complex, escalated, or high-sensitivity employee issues, ensuring alignment with company values and legal requirements.

Build and enhance manager capability through proactive guidance, training, and the sharing of best practices to strengthen the overall employee relations ecosystem.

Ensure compliance with applicable local employment laws and regulations, actively monitoring legislative changes and updating policies and practices to remain current and legally sound.

Develop, review, and revise People policies and employee relations procedures to reflect business needs, legal developments, and industry standards.

Collaborate with Legal and external employment counsel on high-risk matters, contributing to strategy and documentation to minimize organizational exposure.

Manage terminations, offboarding, and reductions in force in a manner that is legally compliant, consistent, respectful, and aligned with Nscale's culture of trust and transparency.

Facilitate mediation and conflict-resolution sessions between individuals or teams, guiding them toward durable, fair, and actionable outcomes.

Identify and address emerging interpersonal or cultural issues before they escalate, implementing early interventions to maintain a healthy work environment.

Track, analyze, and report on employee relations trends, metrics, and case outcomes, using insights to recommend and implement proactive interventions.

Design and deliver training for managers and employees on anti-harassment, code of conduct, respectful workplace standards, and investigation best practices, in collaboration with the Compliance team.

Contribute actively to building a positive, inclusive, and engaged workplace culture that supports innovation, collaboration, and high performance.

Requirements

Proven experience operating as an Employee Relations practitioner at a senior level, with a demonstrated ability to execute independently while contributing to broader global strategy.

A track record of fresh, innovative, and data-driven thinking applied to complex employee relations challenges, supported by a growth mindset and a history of high-impact outcomes.

Strong business and people acumen, with advanced consulting, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills demonstrated across diverse cultural contexts and stakeholder groups.

In-depth knowledge of UK and European employment law, including GDPR, works council obligations, and country-specific labour laws across the EU, with solid understanding of US employment law covering ADA, ADEA, and FMLA.

A collaborative, influential, and decisive approach that enables leading and partnering at all levels of the organization while keeping stakeholders consistently informed.

Clear and inclusive communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues, influence decisions, and support others through challenging topics and transitions.

Sound judgment and the ability to balance colleague experience, organizational impact, and risk when making decisions and recommendations.

The capability to manage multiple priorities in complex settings and to engage constructively with differing perspectives and approaches.

Practical notes

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