Employee Relations Specialist

Syme Drummond Ltd; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Syme Drummond Ltd is proudly partnering with Wheatley Group to recruit an experienced HR Advisor. The role focuses on employee relations, managing complex ER cases, and providing clear, credible advice to managers across a large, unionised organisation in Scotland.

You’ll work in a flexible hybrid setting (permanent, 35 hours per week) and play a hands-on role across attendance, policy development and workforce planning, partnering with trade unions and senior leaders to drive fair outcomes with

Qualifications

• Proven experience independently managing complex, high-volume ER cases.
• Strong generalist HR background in unionised environments.
• Experience with trade unions and influencing managers at all levels.
• Solid employment law knowledge and sound judgement.
• CIPD accredited or working towards accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex ER cases from start to resolution.
• Provide legally sound advice to managers and senior leaders.
• Collaborate with trade unions and navigate complex employee relations matters.
• Take a proactive approach to attendance management and improvements.
• Coach managers to strengthen confidence and capability in handling people matters.
• Contribute to organisational change, workforce planning, policy development and HR improvement initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

ER casework

Union relations

Employment law

Generalist HR

Communication

Emotional intelligence

Relationship building

Education

CIPD accreditation or working towards

Job description

Permanent | 35 hours per week | Flexible hybrid working

At Syme Drummond, we're delighted to be exclusively partnering with Wheatley Group, Scotland's leading housing, care and property management group, to recruit an experienced HR Advisor who brings the right balance of technical expertise, sound judgement and genuine human connection. Because great HR isn't just about knowing the policies, processes and legislation. It's about understanding people.

We're looking for someone down-to-earth, approachable and grounded. Someone who rolls up their sleeves, builds relationships naturally and treats people with fairness, compassion and respect.

But don't mistake that warmth for a lack of professional strength. This role calls for real employee relations expertise, confidence in navigating complex situations and the ability to provide clear, credible advice when it matters most.

Wheatley is an organisation with a strong social purpose, united by its mission of Making Homes and Lives Better. We're looking for someone who genuinely connects with that purpose and understands that behind every policy, process and decision is a person. In short, someone who knows their stuff, cares about people and isn't afraid to get stuck in.

The Opportunity

Joining Wheatley's established People Services function, you'll play an influential, hands-on role in supporting managers and leaders across a large, operationally complex and unionised organisation.

This isn't an HR role where you simply advise from the sidelines. You'll be trusted to get involved, challenge where needed and take genuine ownership of driving the right outcomes.

With a significant focus on employee and industrial relations, you'll manage a varied and often demanding caseload, navigating sensitive situations while balancing organisational priorities with fairness, empathy and sound judgement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Independently managing complex employee relations cases from start to finish, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence and dismissal matters.
• Providing confident, legally sound advice and constructive challenge to managers and senior leaders.
• Working effectively with recognised trade unions, building positive relationships and navigating complex employee relations matters.
• Taking a proactive approach to attendance management, identifying trends, addressing underlying issues and supporting sustainable improvements.
• Coaching managers to strengthen their confidence and capability in handling people matters.
• Contributing to organisational change, workforce planning, policy development and wider HR improvement initiatives.

About You

We're looking for someone with real substance, both professionally and personally.

You’ll be an experienced HR professional with a strong generalist background and substantial hands-on experience of managing complex employee relations cases. You’ll be comfortable taking ownership, making difficult decisions and navigating challenging conversations with confidence and sensitivity.

Experience within a unionised environment is particularly important, alongside an understanding of the complexities of supporting large, operational workforces.

We’d be particularly interested in hearing from applicants with experience in housing, public services, transport, manufacturing, engineering or similarly complex, unionised environments.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience independently managing complex, high-volume ER casework through to resolution.
• Confidence working with trade unions and influencing managers at all levels.
• Strong employment law knowledge, sound judgement and a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
• The resilience and organisational skills to manage competing priorities in a busy operational environment.
• A genuine, grounded and approachable nature, with the ability to build trust and meaningful relationships.
• Emotional intelligence, integrity and the confidence to challenge constructively while treating people with compassion and respect.

You’ll also be CIPD accredited or working towards accreditation.

Above all, you’ll be someone who genuinely cares, takes pride in doing a good job and understands that how you treat people matters just as much as the advice you give.

Why Wheatley?

This is an opportunity to bring your HR expertise into an organisation where people and purpose genuinely matter, and where HR is trusted to influence decisions and make a tangible difference.

You’ll join a collaborative and experienced team, with the opportunity to take real ownership of your work while benefiting from the support of a wider HR function. Because great HR isn't just about getting the process right. It's about having the confidence to make difficult decisions, the compassion to understand their impact and the integrity to do the right thing.

If you're an experienced generalist who thrives on complex employee relations, enjoys being close to the business and brings a genuinely human approach to your work, we'd love to hear from you!