ER Manager

Role: ER Manager

Location: Bournemouth or Burton upon Trent

Reference: HOB1248411

Closing Date: 09/11/2026 23:59

Creativity is Hobbycraft’s reason for being, so when you join our fantastic team, you will be surrounded by like-minded imaginative people. We believe that working together and embracing new and innovative ideas are the best way to make our colleagues feel part of something. 

ER Manager  - Hobbycraft Head Office, BH23 6HG or Hobbycraft DC, DE14 2WA

Salary £45k - £55k dependent on experience

Company car, pension with a 4% contribution, 33 days holiday increasing every year, up to 40% discount in our stores

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours. Our core business hours are Monday to Friday – 10am to 3pm with a flexible approach to start and finish times

Our hybrid working model is 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home

Role Purpose   

In this role you will shape a fair, consistent and proactive approach to employee relations across Hobbycraft. You will strengthen manager confidence, resolve concerns at the earliest appropriate stage and provide expert leadership on complex cases, policy and governance, helping to protect colleague experience and business performance

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities 

ER Culture, Prevention & Framework 

• Shape a proactive ER culture in which managers address attendance, conduct, performance and workplace concerns promptly, fairly and constructively, using informal resolution, mediation or formal action as appropriate. 

• Own and continually improve the ER framework, policies and practical guidance, translating employment law, ACAS guidance and good practice into clear, inclusive and proportionate processes. 

• Partner with People team colleagues and leaders to identify underlying organisational issues, agree preventative action and ensure fair, consistent and legally compliant practice. 

Complex Cases, Litigation & Collective Relations 

• Lead, advise on and provide quality assurance for complex, sensitive and high risk cases, ensuring investigations are appropriately scoped, evidence led, timely and supported by clear, proportionate recommendations. 

• Lead Employment Tribunal preparation with internal stakeholders and external legal advisers where required, including early conciliation, disclosure, witness preparation and chronology. 

• Support with colleague consultation, including the potential for future trade union relationships, advising on recognition, consultation, collective bargaining and the early resolution of collective concerns. 

Governance, Risk & Case Assurance 

• Establish clear case governance, escalation criteria, service standards and decision making responsibilities across managers and the People Team. 

• Maintain oversight of the ER case portfolio and risk register, using regular review and quality assurance to challenge delay, inconsistency, procedural gaps and unmanaged legal, financial, cultural, wellbeing or reputational risk. 

Insight, Learning & Continuous Improvement 

• Use case data to identify trends, repeat issues and opportunities for earlier intervention, reporting meaningful measures without encouraging inappropriate case decisions. 

• Monitor employment law developments and lead learning from significant cases, audits and reviews, ensuring agreed actions and improvements are owned, tracked and embedded. 

Manager & People Team Capability 

• Design and deliver practical training, coaching and resources that build manager confidence in early conversations, investigations, decision making, record keeping and fair application of policy. 

Essential Technical / Professional Qualifications 

 * CIPD Level 7 qualification, or equivalent depth of professional employee relations and employment law expertise. 

* Evidence of continuing professional development in UK employment law and employee relations practice. 

Required Skills & Experience 

* Significant experience in a specialist employee relations or senior People role, managing complex cases across a multi-site organisation, ideally in retail, distribution or a similarly fast-paced environment. 

* Strong practical knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS guidance, with the judgement to translate complex issues into clear, proportionate advice that balances fairness, colleague experience and business needs. 

 * Proven experience leading sensitive investigations and advising on disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability and appeal cases, alongside Employment Tribunal preparation and working with external legal advisers. 

* Skilled in early resolution, constructive challenge and sensitive conversations, building trust and influencing stakeholders at all levels while maintaining confidentiality and professional integrity. 

* Experience developing clear policies, practical manager guidance and training, with strong coaching and facilitation skills to build manager and People Team capability. 

* Strong analytical and organisational skills, using case data and insight to identify trends, prioritise risk, improve practice and manage competing demands without compromising quality. 

* Experience supporting organisational change and colleague consultation; experience of constructive trade union relationships, recognition arrangements or collective bargaining is desirable. 

Other Requirements 

* Able to travel to Hobbycraft locations and attend in person hearings, meetings or tribunals when required.

* Flexibility to support urgent or high risk matters outside normal working hours on an exceptional basis. 

* Accredited workplace mediator, investigation qualification or relevant legal qualification is desirable.

Salary & Benefits 

In addition to the advertised salary, here are some of our key benefits:  

• Jobs need company car 
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays pro rata, which grows with you during your time with us. You will also get a day off to celebrate your birthday 
• Access to a personal pension scheme (4% contribution matched by us) 
• Option to join Hobbycraft pension scheme offering x2 life insurance 
• Up to 40% colleague discount 
• Employee Assistance Programme, for overall wellbeing for you and your family including financial advice and up to 6 counselling sessions 
• Long service awards to thank you for your time spent with us 
• Cycle2Work scheme 
• Discounted gym membership 
• Fundraising events for our charity partners and an annual charity volunteer day 
• Vouchers for free eye tests for VDU users 
• Access to a range of high street discounts 
• Access to a Health Cash Plan 
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay 
• Access to learning and development opportunities to help you grow

We are completely committed to supporting anyone with a disability in applying for our vacancies.  If you have a disability and require support throughout our recruitment process, you can contact us at recruitment@hobbycraft.co.uk and let us know what adjustments you may need.

At Hobbycraft we celebrate the joy of crafting, and we celebrate all of our colleagues and customers.  As a retailer we have a diverse Colleague base from a broad range of all communities. Our colleagues are recruited for their skill, passion, love of craft and customer service, which is also reflected in our customer base. It is this skill and love of crafting which defines them. Hobbycraft, is an equal opportunity employer who takes equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging very seriously, we regularly review our policies and practices to ensure not only compliance, but also best practise from an employment perspective.

Hobbycraft are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to equal and fair treatment for all colleagues or potential colleagues irrespective of race, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origins, religion or belief, disability, age, gender, marital or family status.