Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Overview

You will be the subject-matter expert for employee and industrial relations within a large, growth-focused organisation. In this role you will partner with senior leaders and trade unions, guiding complex ER matters and shaping workplace relations across multiple sites. You’ll be embedded in the business, driving change programmes and supporting managers to handle people issues effectively. The role offers meaningful impact by strengthening employee engagement and union relationships in a dynamic, operational environment. This is a hands-on, influential position with a clear impact on the people agenda.

Pay / Benefits

• car allowance
• bonus
• hybrid working model
• permanent full-time contract

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex ER cases spanning disciplinary, grievance, performance, and absence issues.
• Serve as the primary advisor on industrial relations to senior leaders and managers.
• Build credible relationships with recognised trade unions and employee representatives.
• Support collective consultation, negotiations and bargaining discussions.
• Provide strategic counsel during organisational change, restructures, and workforce planning.
• Coach managers to enhance confidence and capability in handling ER matters.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, policies, and best practice.
• Analyse ER trends and data to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Contribute to development and implementation of ER policies and frameworks.
• Support initiatives to improve engagement, retention and workplace culture.

Key requirements

• Significant experience in a dedicated Employee Relations, Industrial Relations or Senior HR role.
• Proven success in a heavily unionised environment.
• Strong experience managing relationships with recognised trade unions.
• Demonstrable experience of collective bargaining, consultation and negotiations.
• Expert knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practice.
• Experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases from start to finish.
• Ability to build credibility quickly with operational and senior leadership.

• Stakeholder management
• Influencing at senior levels
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• UK employment law
• Employee relations best practice
• Collective bargaining

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