Employee Relations Manager

At Cape Consulting, we believe that the strongest organisations don’t grow by accident—they grow because they invest in their people. Founded by Franzi & Mac Schimm, we are a leading HR and business consultancy partnering with ambitious SMEs, charities, and mission-led organisations across the UK. Our philosophy is simple: HR isn't the goal. Building an organisation where great people thrive, strong leaders emerge, and ambitious businesses outperform is. We don’t do complicated, corporate red tape. Our approach is Practical, Commercial, and Human. As our client base expands, we are looking for a dedicated Employee Relations Manager to join our London team and help our clients confidently navigate their most complex people challenges.

About the Role:

As an Employee Relations (ER) Manager at Cape Consulting, you will be the go-to expert for our clients when difficult conversations, grievances, disciplinaries, investigations, or complex workplace issues need to be handled properly. Unlike an internal HR role, you will be acting as an external consultant for a diverse portfolio of growing businesses, meaning no two days—and no two cases—are exactly the same. You won't just be mitigating risk; you will be coaching founders and managers to make confident decisions, strengthening their people foundations, and resolving conflicts with empathy and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities:

• Expert ER Consultancy: Provide pragmatic, commercially sound, and legally compliant advice to clients on all aspects of employee relations, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and performance issues.
• Complex Investigations & Casework: Lead and conduct thorough, impartial workplace investigations, appeals, and mediations on behalf of clients.
• Strategic Partnering: Work closely with business owners and leadership teams to align ER interventions with their broader business strategy and growth ambitions.
• Policy & Compliance: Assist clients in navigating complex UK employment laws, ensuring their policies are not only compliant but also practical and aligned with a positive workplace culture.
• Manager Upskilling: Coach and empower client management teams to handle difficult conversations and low-level ER issues proactively.
• Dispute Resolution: Champion early intervention and workplace mediation, stepping in to resolve conflicts before they escalation into a crisis.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Spot trends in client ER cases and proactively recommend broader HR consulting, recruitment, or people strategy interventions to the wider Cape Consulting team.

Qualifications:

• CIPD Level 5 or 7 qualification (or equivalent practical experience/employment law background).

Required Skills:

• Experience: Proven background as an Employee Relations Manager, Senior HR Advisor, or HR Consultant with a heavy focus on complex ER casework. Experience in a consultancy, B2B, or multi-site environment is highly desirable.
• Legal Expertise: Deep, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS guidelines, with the ability to translate legal complexities into plain, actionable advice.
• Commercial Acumen: You understand that ER decisions must balance legal risk with commercial realities and the specific realities of fast-growing SMEs and charities.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional stakeholder management skills. You can be empathetic yet firm, and you have the credibility to advise and challenge senior leaders.
• Mindset: You align with our core values—Practical, Commercial, Human. You don't just quote the rulebook; you find the best path forward.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a consultancy, B2B, or multi-site environment is highly desirable.

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