Employee Relations Specialist

Anchor; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading not-for-profit housing provider in the UK is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to provide advice on employment matters. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of UK employment law and experience managing an ER caseload. This role offers hybrid working and opportunities for professional development. If you're looking to make a positive impact in a supportive environment, apply today.

Benefits

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Excellent pension contributions

Wellbeing and recognition programmes

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience managing a varied ER caseload is essential.
• Sound understanding of UK employment law required.
• Ability to support and guide managers at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on ER matters including disciplinary and grievance.
• Develop management capability through coaching.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and company policies.

Skills

Confidence in providing ER advice

Customer-focused mindset

Strong influencing skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Experience with employment tribunal preparation

Education

CIPD qualification (or working towards)

Job description

Title : Employee Relations Specialist

Location : Hybrid with regular weekly travel to Bradford

Contract : 9-month fixed term contract

Salary : up to £34,562 per annum (pro-rata)

At Anchor, we’re proud to be the largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. We’re looking for an experienced Employee Relations (ER) Advisor to join our HR team and help ensure a fair, consistent, and positive colleague experience across the organisation.

The Role

You’ll provide expert, commercially focused advice on a range of ER matters — from disciplinary and grievance to absence and capability. Working closely with managers, you’ll ensure cases are handled effectively in line with employment law, best practice, and Anchor policies and behaviours, to an appropriate resolution.

You’ll also help develop management capability through coaching, enabling leaders to handle ER issues confidently and proactively.

About You

You’ll be somebody experienced in providing support and guidance to all managers within the business, up to Heads of Business / Director level. You will be confident in managing a varied and complex ER caseload and have a sound understanding of UK employment law. You’ll bring :

• Experience to confidently provide ER advice in a fast-paced environment
• A Customer-focused mindset and high standards of service delivery
• Strong influencing and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing.
• Experience supporting employment tribunal preparation.
• CIPD qualification (or working towards) is desirable.

Why Anchor?

At Anchor, we offer more than just a job — we offer purpose. You’ll benefit from :

• Hybrid working.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising with service).
• Excellent pension contributions.
• Wellbeing and recognition programmes.
• Opportunities to develop and grow your career.

Join us and help shape a workplace where every colleague feels supported and valued. Apply today and make a difference with Anchor.

Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit providers of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not-for-profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

Our values

Every one of us can make a difference to our residents and play a part in shaping homes and services around their needs.

Our Anchor values of being Accountable, Respectful, Courageous and Honest apply to us all, whether you manage colleagues as part of your role or not.

Displaying our values can influence those around us to do the same. We can all be leaders at Anchor and should all be driven by the same customer ethos. Our Anchor Leadership Framework helps align these values with the skills and behaviours we demonstrate.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support
• Flexible working options

Finance

• Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better
• Quick and easy pension transfer service
• Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance
• Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

• Ongoing personal and professional development programme
• Leadership Pathways online learning resources
• Career progression and promotion opportunities

Celebrating diversity, celebrating you

Anchor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aim to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we know that the more diverse our colleagues are, the better care and support we can give to our residents and each other.

We are proud to have an LGBT+ group for our residents, and also Disability, LGBT+ and race and ethnicity colleague networks. These work to celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and practice and empower their members. We also have an Inclusive Ambassador network to allow all colleagues to be part of promoting diversity and to be an ally to others.

We are a Gold standard Inclusive Employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Menopause Friendly and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant, HouseProud Pledge and Age Friendly Employer Pledge schemes