Employee Relations Specialist

A rapidly growing business is hiring an Employee Relations Specialist to take ownership of employee relations across its UK operation.

This is not a generalist HR role with some ER attached. We are looking for someone who has owned employee relations as a significant part of their role over a sustained period, managing complex cases from the first issue through to resolution.

You'll inherit a busy, varied ER environment, but this isn't simply about managing the cases in front of you. You'll also have the opportunity to build and strengthen the ER framework around them, introducing the structure, triggers, processes and manager capability needed as the business continues to scale.

You'll need to be comfortable getting into the detail. That means understanding what has actually happened, challenging where appropriate, assessing risk, deciding the right route forward and driving cases through to a conclusion.

What you'll own

• Managing a substantial ER caseload end-to-end across conduct, capability, probation, sickness absence, grievances, investigations, AWOL and dismissals.
• Taking cases from initial issue and fact-finding through formal process, outcome and follow-up, rather than simply advising from the sidelines.
• Giving managers clear recommendations on options, risk, process and likely outcomes.
• Owning absence and performance frameworks, including triggers, escalation points, PIPs, probation processes and formal interventions.
• Running and supporting investigations, difficult conversations and formal meetings.
• Building practical ER infrastructure from the ground up, including case tracking, templates, guidance, escalation routes and consistent processes.
• Spotting patterns across cases and using them to address recurring problems rather than treating every issue in isolation.
• Coaching managers to handle ER issues confidently while remaining accountable for progressing cases.
• Producing clear, robust documentation including investigation notes, invitations, outcome letters and case records.
• Working closely with People, Legal and operational leadership on higher-risk or particularly complex matters.

What we're looking for

You'll have deep, hands-on UK employee relations experience. We are not looking for someone whose exposure to ER has been occasional, a short-term project or simply one element of a broad HR generalist role.

You should be able to demonstrate sustained ownership of a meaningful caseload and talk in detail about complex cases you've personally taken from start to finish, including the decisions you made, risks you identified and outcomes you reached. Experience in a high-volume, operational or performance-led environment would be particularly valuable, such as retail, hospitality, facilities, logistics, transport, contact centres or a rapidly scaling business.

You'll need strong working knowledge of UK employment law, but just as importantly, practical ER judgement. You'll know when to investigate further, when to challenge, when to escalate and when there is enough information to make a decision and move forward.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants genuine ownership. You'll be trusted to run ER, improve how it's done and build a more scalable approach as the UK business grows.

The role is based in London and offers hybrid working.