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Job summary

Main area
HR
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
278-PRM-0725-SBW
Employer
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Crawley HQ
Town
Crawley
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust logo

People Relations Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

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.

Working for our organisation

  • Option to join NHS pension scheme
  • A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years’ service.
  • Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
  • Access to occupational health and counselling services.
  • Award winning wellbeing hub
  • Back up buddy App
  • Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money-saving deals.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • CIPD Level 7 or equivalent OR willingness to complete within 12 months
  • Master’s degree in HR, Law, Business OR equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continued professional development in HR/ER

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of HR strategy and policy development in a complex setting
  • Deep understanding of UK employment law (Equality Act, H&S, etc.)
  • Understanding of ACAS Code and its practical application
  • Awareness of NHS frameworks, AFC, pensions, collective agreements

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Senior HR/ER or Policy Advisory experience
  • Managing complex ER cases and organisational change
  • Experience handling performance, grievance, absence, TU engagement

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Care Quality Commission - Requires improvementStep into healthEmployers Network for Equality & InclusionArmed Forces CovenantCycle to Work

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Shannon Bowie-Wooler
Job title
Recruitment Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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