Employee Relations Specialist

Overview

Responsibilities

Employee Relations Specialist

Location: UK – Fully Remote (or can work from any 1 of the UK contact centres; or hybrid) Contract: Permanent | Full-time (40 hours per week)Salary: Up to £37,500 per annum (DOE)Reports to: Employee Relations Manager

About the role

We’re seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to join our HRER team supporting the UK and Republic of Ireland. In this role, you’ll be a trusted advisor on all employee relations matters, helping managers navigate complex situations with confidence. You’ll combine commercial awareness with fairness, compliance, and a focus on creating a positive employee experience.

This position offers exposure to a wide range of ER activities, including complex case management, organisational change programmes, and Employment Tribunal defence. You’ll benefit from ongoing mentoring by an experienced ER Manager and collaborate closely with a leading employment law firm, giving you the opportunity to deepen your expertise and make a real impact.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Takes initiative and works independently with confidence.

• Demonstrates compassion and empathy in every interaction.

• Is driven to achieve results and deliver excellence.

• Possesses exceptional influencing and negotiation skills.

• Embodies our company values in everything they do.

• Thrives in a team environment and builds strong relationships.

• Shows resilience, focus, and adaptability under pressure.

• Has the courage to challenge constructively and make sound decisions.

• Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Manages time and priorities efficiently to meet deadlines.

What you’ll be doing

• Act as the first point of contact for managers on complex employee relations matters, providing pragmatic, legally sound and best-in-class advice.

• Support and manage cases across the full ER spectrum, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, wellbeing, and performance-related issues.

• Assist with full Employment Tribunal activity, including ACAS/LRA early conciliation, ET3 responses, witness statements, evidence bundles, and preliminary hearing representation, or final hearing representation, where appropriate and with full coaching and support of ER Manager.

• Support the drafting and negotiation of settlement agreements.

• Contribute to organisational change programmes such as redeployment, redundancy, restructuring, harmonisation, and TUPE.

• Partner closely with HR Business Partners and key stakeholders across Operations, Workforce Management, Payroll, Recruitment, IT, Finance, and Legal.

• Maintain and review HR policies and the Employee Handbook to ensure alignment with UK and Republic of Ireland employment law and best practice.

• Use ER data and insights to identify trends, reduce risk, and continuously improve ways of working.

• Champion efficient, streamlined, and people-focused ER processes.

Essential

• Proven experience working in an Employee Relations or HR role, with exposure to complex casework.

• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law, including the Equality Act and Employment Rights Act (and any other relevant legislation relating to Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland)

• Confidence advising and influencing managers at all levels.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Experience level (one of the following):

• 2+ years’ ER specialist experience in a contact centre environment, or

• 3+ years’ ER specialist experience in another fast-paced industry, or

• 4+ years’ HR generalist experience.

Desirable

• CIPD qualification (or working towards).

• Mediation training or accredited mediator status.

• Exposure to Employment Tribunal preparation or early conciliation activity.

Why join us?

• A truly diverse ER role with the opportunity to develop into full Employment Tribunal ownership.

• Supportive leadership and a collaborative HR team committed to your growth.

• A chance to shape and influence how employee relations is delivered at scale across the organisation.

#LI-CW1