Employee Relations Specialist

Job Advertisement: Employee Relations Specialist

Location: London (Hybrid)
Duration: 6 months (potential extension)
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hourly Rate: 28.44

Our client is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist with experience in higher Education/Healthcare to provide senior ER expertise. This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled professional to make a significant impact on employee relations practises.

Job Purpose:
As the Employee Relations Specialist, you will lead complex and high-risk cases, ensuring a seamless ER service and building capability across the HR Business Partnering team. Your role will uphold high standards in ER practise, governance, and record keeping, while fostering constructive relationships with managers and trade unions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Intake, Triage, and Case Allocation:
- Operate the single front door for ER, triaging new cases and allocating ownership with clear next steps.
- Apply escalation triggers for high-risk matters, promptly escalating to the Acting Head of HR Business Partnering.
- Chair weekly case review meetings to confirm case progress and ownership.

2. Complex Case Leadership:
- Act as Case Owner for various employee relations matters, ensuring fair and timely outcomes in line with policies and the ACAS Code of practise.
- Advise managers on proportionality and support hearings with independent HR advice.

3. Standards, Fairness, and Adjustments:
- Ensure investigations and hearings are conducted with clear accountability and proportionate processes.
- Champion organisational values by embedding dignity, respect, and inclusive practises across ER processes.

4. Capability Building and Support:
- Provide coaching and real-time support to HR Business Partners, enhancing team capability.
- Facilitate CPD and practise-based learning sessions to support reflective learning.

5. Trade Union and Stakeholder Partnership Working:
- Build constructive relationships with recognised trade unions.
- Collaborate with managers and HR functions to encourage early resolution of cases.

6. Templates, Toolkits, and Process Improvement:
- Maintain ER templates and toolkits, ensuring consistency across the Business Partnering team.
- Recommend policy updates based on casework insights to strengthen preventative management practises.

7. Governance, MI, and Data Integrity:
- Monitor case progression to ensure timely resolution.
- Maintain high-quality ER records and produce management information for HR leadership.

Person Specification:

Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience:

Essential:

• Experience working within Higher Education/Healthcare
• Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management or equivalent qualification.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation with significant practical application experience.
• Proven track record in managing complex ER cases, including tribunal claims.
• Experience in interpreting and applying comprehensive policies.

Desirable:

• Chartered CIPD membership or equivalent.
• Higher education or public sector experience.
• Interim or consultancy experience demonstrating adaptability.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent judgement on risk, providing clear, pragmatic advice.
• Proven ability to manage a varied caseload to agreed deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills for data analysis and report generation.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.

Adecco is a disability-confident employer. It is important to us that we run an inclusive and accessible recruitment process to support candidates of all backgrounds and all abilities to apply. Adecco is committed to building a supportive environment for you to explore the next steps in your career. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.