Employee Relations Lead

IRIS Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency in the UK seeks an Employee Relations Lead to manage complex employee relations cases and support organizational culture. The role involves guiding managers through sensitive situations, influencing how employee issues are managed, and driving policy improvements. The ideal candidate will have deep employee relations experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to navigate challenging conversations with confidence. This position is full-time, paying £44,000 per annum and offers a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in managing complex employee relations cases.
• Ability to challenge and influence at senior leadership levels.
• Empathy and confidence in handling sensitive employee issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex ER cases, ensuring fair and compliant outcomes.
• Act as trusted advisor to managers on ER issues.
• Drive improvements in ER processes and policies.

Skills

Employee relations management

Influencing senior leaders

Clear communication

Calm under pressure

Pragmatic problem-solving

Data analysis

Job description

Bedford, Hybrid

£44,000 per annum

Full Time,

Permanent

As our clients Employee Relations Lead, you’ll be the person everyone turns to when things get complex. You’ll guide managers through sensitive situations, protect the organisation from risk, and make sure their people feel heard and supported. This isn’t just about policies—it’s about shaping positive culture and helping leaders do the right thing.

You’ll play a critical role in influencing how we manage people issues, ensuring fairness and consistency while balancing commercial needs. This is a chance to make a real impact—helping us build trust, confidence, and a workplace where people thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex ER cases, taking ownership of high-risk and escalated cases, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Act as a trusted advisor providing clear, practical advice to managers and senior leaders, building confidence in handling ER issues.
• Drive policy and process improvements, identifying trends and gaps, and leading initiatives that make our ER approach smarter and more proactive.
• Deliver training and guidance that empowers managers to handle ER issues effectively and confidently.
• Balance risk and people by helping them make decisions that are legally sound, commercially sensible, and people focused.
• Provide insight by turning ER data into meaningful reports and recommendations that help to shape future strategy.
• Champion best practice, ensuring compliance with employment law and internal policies, reducing risk and protecting bpha’s reputation.
• Work closely with HR colleagues and business leaders to deliver joined-up solutions that support organisational goals.

What our client is Looking For

• Deep ER experience: You’ve managed complex cases and acted as the escalation point many times before.
• Influence and Impact: You know how to engage senior leaders and aren’t afraid to challenge when needed.
• Calm Under Pressure: You can handle sensitive situations with empathy and confidence.
• Clear Communicator: You make complicated things simple and easy to understand.
• Pragmatic and Commercial: You balance risk with practical solutions that work for everyone.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: You’re always looking for ways to make things better.

This is a role where you’ll make a real difference—helping people through tough times, shaping how they work, and influencing the future of our clients organisation. You’ll have the freedom to bring ideas to the table, the support of a collaborative team, and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact. If you’re passionate about doing the right thing and want to be part of a team that values empathy, accountability, and ambition, they would love to hear from you.

Our client reserves the right to close this vacancy early if they receive sufficient applications or identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.