Employee Relations & Change Manager

Employee Relations and Change Manager (Fixed Term)

Band 6  £43,482–£48,823 per annum pro rata
Fixed term to 31 July 2026 | Full time (37 hours per week, 1.0 FTE)
Location: Ipswich Waterfront Campus (Agile – minimum 60% / 3 days per week on campus)

The University of Suffolk is seeking an experienced, immediately available Employee Relations and Change Manager to join our People & Organisational Development (POD) Directorate for a short interim period.

This role is required to provide expert, solution‑focussed employee relations and change management support across the University. You will manage complex ER cases, advise and influence managers and senior leaders, and support the implementation of changes arising from changing and emerging legislation, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.

About the role

Working in close partnership with key stakeholders, including senior leaders and Trade Union representatives, you will:

• Lead and manage complex employee relations casework (disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness and wellbeing advice on employment law, people policies, pay and benefits.)
• Support and deliver organisational change projects.
• Contribute to the development and review of people policies and procedures, applying an equality, diversity and inclusion lens.
• Prepare clear, professional written communications, reports and correspondence.
• Act as a change agent, supporting transformation and continuous improvement across People services in response to workforce and succession planning requirements.
• Lead and contribute to training on employee relations and change matters.

About you

You will be CIPD qualified (minimum Level 5) or have equivalent demonstrable experience, with:

• Significant recent experience of managing complex employee relations and organisational change.
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of current and emerging / future employment legislation and best practice.
• Demonstrable understanding of strategic workforce planning
• Proven ability to influence, negotiate and build strong working relationships at all levels.
• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Experience of managing TUPE processes and complex People change work
• A collaborative, professional and solution‑focused approach, with strong communication and analytical skills.
• Experience in the design and delivery of training on a range of HR / People matters
• Ability to work autonomously on HR projects and cases, using your up-to-date knowledge and recent experience to maintain legal compliance.
• Ability to ‘roll your sleeves up’ and get involved in a range of HR projects and individual pieces of work.

Why join us?

The University of Suffolk offers a supportive, inclusive working environment, generous annual leave (30 days plus bank holidays and closure days), USS pension, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful organisational transformation aligned to our values of being transformative, collaborative, professional, creative, empowering and inclusive.

Benefits 

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for Bands 1-4 and 30 days for Bands 5 and above, plus 8 bank holidays and any university closure days. 
• Enjoy an extra day of paid leave on your birthday, subject to qualifying/service conditions. 
• Flexible working, including family friendly policies. 
• Competitive workplace pension scheme (USS) – with an employer contribution rate of 14.5%, tax relief on contributions and life cover. 
• Staff discounts at a number of local amenities in Ipswich. 
• Discounted membership at Adastral Park Leisure and Sports 
• Access to a range of high-quality learning and development opportunities 
• Discounted rates for staff approved to study a UoS undergraduate or postgraduate course, subject to a set of criteria and conditions. 
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). 
• Staff recognition annual awards. 

Closing Date: Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Interview Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026

Please see the Job Application Guidance to support your application.

For an Informal discussion about the role , please contact jobs@uos.ac.uk

Please note:

We recommend that you apply as soon as possible, even if the closing date is in the future.

Applications received may be reviewed before the closing date and should we receive a high number of applications for this post, or high-quality applications which demonstrate suitability, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. We may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date.

We are a values driven organisation, committed to ensuring we remain a beacon for aspiration and achievement, while providing a great environment to work and study. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.