Employee Relations Specialist

POP MART; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global designer toys company is looking for an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to join its UK People team. The ideal candidate should have prior experience in employee relations and a solid understanding of UK employment law. Responsibilities include managing employee grievances, designing HR policies, and developing training programs. This role offers a chance to contribute to building a strong workplace culture within an expanding European business. Competitive benefits are provided, including structured bonus schemes and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Monthly appreciation gifts

Structured bonus scheme

Comprehensive training programs

Employee Assistance Programme

Regular team events

Paid rest breaks

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an Employee Relations or HR Specialist role.
• Proven experience managing investigations, grievances, and disciplinary processes.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end investigations into employee grievances and disciplinary cases.
• Design and deliver ER training programmes for managers.
• Review, draft, and update HR policies to ensure alignment with UK employment legislation.

Skills

Employee Relations management

UK employment law understanding

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Education

CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above)

Job description

Employee Relations Specialist

Industry : Designer Toys and Collectible Pieces

Location : Canary Wharf, London

Job Type : Full Time, Permanent

Working Hours : 40 hours per week

About POP MART

POP MART (09992.HK) is a leading global company in the trend culture and entertainment industry. Centered around IP, POP MART has built a comprehensive platform for creative incubation and IP operations, empowering global creators while delivering exciting products, services, and immersive entertainment experiences to consumers.

POP MART identifies and nurtures emerging artists and designers worldwide, creating popular character IPs through a well‑established development and operation system. Our portfolio includes iconic characters such as MOLLY, SKULLPANDA, DIMOO, THE MONSTERS, and Hirono. POP MART operates over 500 physical stores and more than 2,300 Robo Shops across over thirty countries and regions, and through multiple cross‑border e‑commerce platforms, reaches audiences in more than ninety countries — bringing joy to young consumers around the world.

POP MART has developed a comprehensive IP commercialisation ecosystem that spans multiple industries, deepening emotional bonds between fans and IPs while exploring broader opportunities for value creation. Our ventures include the world’s first immersive intellectual property‑themed park in the art toy industry, global IP licensing and co‑branding collaborations with leading brands, and international art toy expos and exhibitions.

In Europe, POP MART has established a strong presence in key markets including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, with plans to expand further into new high‑potential markets.

For more information, please visit www.popmart.com and our LinkedIn Career Page.

What to Expect

POP MART is a fast‑paced company with a young and multicultural team where you can expect to :

• Be part of an expanding European business that combines creativity, retail, and cultural innovation
• Collaborate with talented colleagues from diverse countries and backgrounds
• Gain exposure to all aspects of retail operations and people management
• Contribute directly to building POP MART’s organisational culture and growth in the UK and France

Benefits

POP MART offers our employees :

• Monthly appreciation gifts featuring our latest POP MART collectibles
• A structured bonus scheme linked to company and individual performance
• Comprehensive training and professional development programmes
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for counselling and wellbeing support
• Regular team events and activities
• Paid rest breaks

The Role and Candidate

We are seeking an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to join our UK People team on a full‑time basis. This role will play a key part in developing and implementing a strong employee relations framework across POPMART’s UK and France operations.

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing standardised ER processes, creating compliant HR policies aligned with local employment laws, and building the infrastructure to support effective people management and workplace culture.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive HR professional who thrives on problem‑solving, building frameworks from the ground up, and supporting sustainable organisational growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end investigations into employee grievances and disciplinary cases, ensuring compliance with company policy and employment law
• Design and deliver ER training programmes for managers, covering topics such as performance management, investigations, and grievance handling
• Develop standardised templates, escalation pathways, and decision‑making frameworks for consistent ER management
• Review, draft, and update HR policies to ensure alignment with UK employment legislation and best practice
• Conduct trend analysis and report on ER insights to identify organisational risks and improvement opportunities
• Provide strategic recommendations to leadership to strengthen workplace culture and compliance
• Manage relationships with external employment lawyers and legal advisors

Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in an Employee Relations or HR Specialist role
• Solid understanding of UK employment law (knowledge of French employment law is an advantage)
• Proven experience managing investigations, grievances, and disciplinary processes
• Strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and handle sensitive issues with professionalism and confidentiality
• Fluent in English; proficiency in Mandarin or French is a plus

Desirable but Not Essential

• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above)
• Experience in a retail or fast‑paced international business environment
• Knowledge of both UK and French HR frameworks

If you are passionate about shaping workplace culture and building strong employee relations foundations for a growing global brand, click Apply Now and send us your CV.