People Relations Manager

Job overview

People Relations Manager (Band 7)

Band 7 | Based in Crawley: regular attendance at SECAmb Regional Locations | Minimum 40% On-Site

Contract Type: Permanent | Full Time

Are you a passionate HR professional with strong employee relations expertise, a coaching mindset and a drive for developing supportive, just, and people-centred workplace cultures? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a People Relations Manager to join our People Services team at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb). Working closely with the Senior Employee Relations Manager, you’ll manage complex employee relations (ER) casework and a small team of Senior People Advisors, ensuring timely, fair, and legally compliant resolutions.

This is a vital leadership role, championing restorative, kind and courageous approaches, working in partnership with Trade Union colleagues and senior managers across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

What you'll be doing...

• Lead and manage employee relations casework across your division, applying a learning and resolution-focused culture.
• Provide specialist HR advice on complex and sensitive issues, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance matters.
• Support strategic people projects, policy development, and workforce transformation initiatives.
• Lead and develop a small team, building capability and ensuring high-quality, consistent service delivery.
• Collaborate with staff-side colleagues and stakeholders to promote positive employee relations and partnership working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in a senior HR/ER role, ideally in a complex or unionised setting.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law, HR policy, and employee relations practice.
• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent, or willingness to work towards within 12 months.
• Strong influencing, coaching, and negotiation skills.
• A values-driven leader who thrives on building trust, supporting people, and solving problems.