Employee Relations Manager

Building a sustainable tomorrow

What if it brought more purpose, more growth, more balance – and more time for what really matters?
BAM is where you can do your best work on projects that improve people’s lives. And it's also where you’ll find the freedom to grow, the support to thrive, and the chance to shape your career on your terms.

BAM UK & Ireland are recruiting an Employee Relations Manager to report to the construction HR Director. 

The Employee Relations Manager leads the delivery of a high-quality, consistent and commercially focused employee relations service across a complex, multisite environment. The role ensures employee relations matters are managed fairly, proportionately, legally and in alignment with BAM policies, values and business priorities.

Reporting to the HR Director, the postholder leads and develops a team of Employee Relations Advisors and acts as the senior specialist adviser on complex and high-risk employee relations matters. The role is a peer to Senior HR Business Partners and works in close partnership with them to identify organisational risks, cultural themes and opportunities for proactive intervention.

The role also provides strategic oversight of ER governance, service standards, case data and the central ER recording tool. Strong data stewardship and trend analysis will support informed decision-making, strengthen manager capability, improve employee experience and reduce avoidable escalation.

Making Possible

Employee Relations Leadership & Case Management

Lead a professional, manager-focused ER advisory service across a complex, multisite operational environment.

Act as senior ER adviser to HR Directors, Senior HR Business Partners and operational leaders on complex, sensitive and high-risk matters.

Provide oversight and quality assurance across disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence, probation, restructuring, TUPE, whistleblowing and compliance cases, directly supporting significant cases where required.

Ensure advice and outcomes are fair, timely, evidence-based, legally compliant and aligned with BAM policies and values. Manage escalation to Legal, Compliance and senior leadership, including tribunal, settlement and litigation risk.

Partnership & Organisational Insight

Partner with Senior HR Business Partners, providing specialist ER leadership, governance and risk expertise.

Connect ER insight with business priorities, workforce plans, organisational change and culture. Establish effective handovers and escalation routes across ER, HR, People Services, Centres of Excellence, Compliance and Legal.

Use case trends and organisational hotspots to recommend preventative action and inform people plans and leadership decisions.

Team Leadership & Service Delivery

Lead, coach and develop Employee Relations Advisors, creating a high-performing, resilient and customer-focused team.

Set standards for case management, documentation, response times, professional judgement and stakeholder experience.

Manage workload, capacity and case prioritisation, providing supervision, coaching and quality assurance. Build team capability and succession through feedback, development and knowledge sharing.

Governance, Risk & Employment Practice

Maintain effective ER governance and controls to ensure consistent employment practice and appropriate risk management.

Ensure employment law, company policy, ethical decision-making, confidentiality and data protection are embedded in ER delivery.

Partner with Legal, Compliance, Occupational Health and other specialists and contribute ER expertise to policies, procedures, audit requirements and manager guidance.

Monitor employment law developments and translate changes into practical organisational action.

ER Systems, Data & Improvement

Own governance of BAM's central ER recording tool, ensuring cases, advice, decisions and outcomes are accurately and consistently recorded.

Maintain data quality, confidentiality and GDPR standards and improve system use and reporting.

Analyse ER data to identify trends, hotspots, root causes and emerging risks. Combine ER insight with wider people data to inform leadership decisions and preventative interventions.

Drive continuous improvement in service quality, timeliness, workflows and ways of working.

Manager Capability, Change & Industrial Relations

Build manager capability through coaching, training and practical guidance, partnering with HR and Learning and Development on targeted interventions.

Promote early and constructive resolution, including mediation where appropriate.

Build effective relationships with Trade Union and employee representatives and provide specialist advice on consultation, restructuring, TUPE and organisational change.

Ensure workforce change is appropriately governed, legally compliant and sensitively managed.

Your team

To be based from any UK&I office 

What’s in it for you?

In addition to an attractive salary we offer a significant benefits package which could include;
Competitive salary
A wide range of family friendly policies
8% matched pension contributions
Private healthcare
Life assurance
26 days holiday
2 wellbeing days
1 volunteering day
Personal and professional development
Flexible benefit pot

What do you bring to the role?

Essential

• • Significant employee relations experience within a complex, multisite, operational or project-led environment.
  • Deep knowledge of UK and Ireland employment law and employee relations best practice.
  • Proven experience leading and resolving complex, sensitive and high-risk ER matters through to conclusion.
  • Demonstrable people leadership experience, including coaching, developing and managing a specialist advisory team.
  • Experience partnering senior HR and senior operational leaders.
  • Experience establishing governance, quality standards and effective escalation routes for an ER service.
  • Ability to analyse ER and wider people data and convert insight into clear, practical recommendations.
  • Confidence managing a high volume of activity and competing priorities within a dynamic operational environment.
  • High levels of professionalism, integrity, confidentiality and sound judgement.

Desirable

• • CIPD Level 7 qualification, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Experience within construction, infrastructure, engineering, utilities, manufacturing or a similarly complex environment.
  • Experience of industrial relations, Trade Union engagement, organisational change, consultation and TUPE.
  • Experience of employment tribunal preparation, mediation or alternative dispute resolution.
  • Strong analytical capability and experience producing executive-level ER reporting and insight.

Key skills and behaviours

• • Strategic and commercially aware, with the ability to translate ER insight into focused organisational action.
  • Credible senior adviser with strong influencing, coaching, constructive challenge and stakeholder management skills.
  • Excellent judgement and the confidence to operate effectively with ambiguity, sensitivity and risk.
  • Collaborative leadership style and the ability to build effective partnerships across the People function and operational business.
  • Evidence-based and improvement-focused, with strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
  • Able to balance legal and policy requirements with pragmatic, proportionate and values-led solutions.
  • Committed to fairness, inclusion, integrity and a positive employee experience.

About BAM

Building a sustainable tomorrow. That’s our mission and our promise at BAM. It’s how we engineer vital infrastructure and construct high-quality buildings as one of the largest construction companies in Europe.

We strive to create an environment where everybody feels welcome and valued. We’re on an exciting journey to employ the best talent to join us regardless of social background, race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or other characteristics.

The application process

​​​BAM is committed to ensuring a fully inclusive recruitment and onboarding process, so if at any time you feel you may need any reasonable adjustments, do not hesitate to speak with one of our team, and we will do our best to support you. "Join us in Making Possible"

For more information or an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact Paul Howes, Recruitment Manager paul.howes@bam.com.

Full job description available on request 

Closing date for all applications is 30th October 2026