Employee Relations Advisor

Ashley Kate HR & Finance; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicholas Associates Group is partnering with a large public sector organisation to recruit an experienced Employee Relations Advisor on a 7-month fixed-term contract, with hybrid working in the United Kingdom.

You will manage a varied caseload, provide expert guidance on disciplinary, grievance and absence matters, conduct investigations, and support managers through hearings and appeals in a highly regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Experienced employee relations professional
• Comfortable handling complex casework
• Confident influencing managers in challenging situations

Responsibilities

• Managing a varied employee relations caseload from initial advice through to conclusion.
• Advising managers on disciplinary, grievance and capability matters.
• Supporting complex and long-term sickness absence cases.
• Conducting investigations and producing investigation reports.
• Advising managers throughout formal hearings and appeals.
• Providing guidance on employment law, policy and HR best practice.
• Building effective working relationships with managers across the business.
• Working within a highly unionised environment and supporting consultation processes where required.
• Ensuring all cases are managed thoroughly, consistently and in line with robust internal procedures.

Skills

Employee relations

Disciplinary

Grievance

Absence management

Investigations

Employment law

Unionised environment

Stakeholder management

Job description

Employee Relations Advisor (Fixed-Term Contract)

7-Month Fixed-Term Contract | Hybrid Working | Competitive Salary

We are partnering with a large and highly respected organisation within the Public sector to recruit an experienced Employee Relations Advisor on a fixed-term basis until the end of March 2027.

This opportunity has arisen due to increased demand within the People Team as the organisation prepares for a significant TUPE programme next year. As a result, they are seeking an additional pair of hands to support what is already a busy employee relations function.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ER Advisor or HR Advisor who enjoys managing complex casework in a structured and highly regulated environment.

Employee Relations Advisor - The Role

Supporting a workforce of approximately 1,400 employees, with a further 300 employees expected to join through TUPE, you'll be responsible for providing expert employee relations advice and guidance to managers across the organisation.

This is not a strategic HRBP role. Instead, the focus is firmly on hands-on employee relations support, helping managers navigate a range of often complex and long-running cases while ensuring policies and procedures are followed correctly.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing a varied employee relations caseload from initial advice through to conclusion.
• Advising managers on disciplinary, grievance and capability matters.
• Supporting complex and long-term sickness absence cases.
• Conducting investigations and producing investigation reports.
• Advising managers throughout formal hearings and appeals.
• Providing guidance on employment law, policy and HR best practice.
• Building effective working relationships with managers across the business.
• Working within a highly unionised environment and supporting consultation processes where required.
• Ensuring all cases are managed thoroughly, consistently and in line with robust internal procedures.

Employee Relations Advisor - About You

We're looking for an experienced employee relations professional who is comfortable handling complex casework and confident influencing managers in challenging situations.

You'll likely have:

• Previous experience as an ER Advisor, Senior HR Advisor or Employee Relations Specialist.
• Strong employee relations experience across disciplinary, grievance, absence management and capability processes.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations.
• Good working knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience operating within a unionised environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A meticulous and process-driven approach.
• The confidence to challenge and support managers appropriately.

Salary dependant on experience

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies