Senior Manager - Employee Relations

About the role

The Freshworks People team shapes experiences that maximize the potential of our people. Based in London, this Senior Manager, Employee Relations role is a key member of our global ER leadership team, owning the employee relations agenda across Europe and the United States. You will co-create ER strategy alongside our global ER leadership, bringing a European lens and deep cross-cultural fluency to how we build a high-trust, high-performance culture. French language fluency is required for this role, given the scope of our European footprint. We are re-imagining Employee Relations for today's world - how we handle workplace conflicts, how we take a more proactive, data-driven approach to organisational health, and how we teach employees to share diverse points of view with respect. At Freshworks, we believe we are stronger together.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree required; JD or advanced HR qualification a plus. 7+ years of relevant experience in employee relations, workplace conflict, and performance management, with meaningful exposure to both European and US employment environments.
• Proven experience operating as an ER practitioner at a senior level, with the ability to execute independently while contributing to broader global strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and inspire talent; experience managing or mentoring ER team members or HR colleagues.
• Fresh, innovative, and data-driven thinking applied to complex, long-standing ER challenges - with a growth mindset and a track record of high-impact outcomes.
• Strong business and people acumen, with excellent consulting, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills across diverse cultural contexts.
• In-depth understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and their application to employee relations practice.
• European language skills are a plus, especially French
• Collaborative, influential, and decisive - able to lead and partner at all levels of the organisation while keeping stakeholders informed.
• Comfort with HR technology and case management tools (e.g. Salesforce, ServiceNow, Smartsheet); operational rigour in everything you do.
• How You Will Lead
• Co-create ER strategy with the global ER leadership team, contributing a Europe-first perspective while ensuring alignment and consistency across the US and other regions.
• Own the day-to-day ER agenda for Europe and the United States - from complex case management to coaching managers and HR Business Partners on handling workplace issues with confidence and consistency.
• Build capability across the broader People organisation on conflict resolution, mediation, restorative justice, and bias-aware decision-making.
• Partner with the global ER team to re-imagine how we address performance concerns, involuntary exits, and organisational changes - grounded in principle, designed for people, and executed with operational excellence.
• Serve as a trusted expert on organisational health issues: gaps in belonging and trust, manager-employee conflicts, and behaviours that do not align to Freshworks' values or DEI commitments.
• Ensure governance and compliance with employment policies and practices across European jurisdictions and the US, including interpretation and application of relevant laws, regulations, and corporate policy.
• Work closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Development, Total Rewards, and Legal to deliver coordinated, seamless support on ER matters.
• Drive accountability through strong case management practices, meaningful metrics, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Navigate works councils, trade unions, and local consultation requirements in European markets with confidence and cultural fluency.

Benefits

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