Employee Relations (ER) Specialist – Contract (6 Months)
Location: Multiple UK offices (minimum 3 days on-site)
Duration: 6 Months
Clearance: BPSS required
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Start: ASAP
We are seeking an experienced Employee Relations (ER) Specialist to join our Employee Services team on a 6-month contract. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident and capable ER professional who can hit the ground running and operate with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-paced environment.
The Role
The Employee Relations Specialist will provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes across the business.
You’ll act as a trusted advisor to managers and HR colleagues, delivering pragmatic solutions that balance business needs with employee wellbeing. This role offers a dynamic and varied workload, covering all aspects of ER case management within a complex organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide timely, expert ER advice to managers on complex casework
- Manage ER cases end-to-end, including: Investigations, disciplinary processes, grievances, performance management
- Coach and upskill managers to enhance ER capability across the organisation
- Collaborate with People Partners, HR Advisors, and the in-house Legal team
- Identify trends and deliver training sessions to address capability gaps
- Maintain accurate and compliant case documentation
- Ensure prompt responses to casework enquiries (typically within 24 hours)
- Review and recommend improvements to ER policies, toolkits, and guidance materials
Key Skills & Capabilities
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess multiple perspectives
- Confident handling of challenging and sensitive conversations
- Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Ability to quickly build relationships with managers, employee representatives, and Trade Unions
- Strong understanding of ER risk and legal frameworks
- Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written)
- High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
- Ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure
- Collaborative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
Experience & Qualifications
- CIPD Level 5 (minimum) or equivalent experience
- Proven experience managing high volumes of complex ER casework at pace
- Experience coaching and developing managers and mentoring junior team members
- Background in complex organisations or technical environments
- Experience supporting return-to-office or on-site working initiatives (desirable)
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