Employee Relations Specialist

Veolia | UK; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Discounts

Health resources

Virtual GP

Volunteer day

Training & development

Financial wellbeing

Job summary

Veolia is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to provide expert ER guidance across regional sites, primarily in the North West with national travel. You will coach managers, handle complex cases and TUPE/transformational projects to support a healthier, compliant workforce.

As part of Veolia, you will contribute to an inclusive culture and drive changes that align with our ecological transformation aims, while engaging with unions and improving absence management across our teams.

Qualifications

• ER experience in a unionised environment.
• Experience advising on complex case work and litigation.
• Strong communication and influencing skills across management levels.
• Good attention to detail with ability to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist ER advice across regional sites in line with current legislation.
• Coach managers on ER matters to ensure legal and procedural compliance.
• Support the Treatment West, Merseyside and Halton units in ER matters.
• Build collaborative relationships with union representatives and assist pay negotiations.
• Lead on absence management to reduce levels and improve engagement.
• Lead TUPE transfers, mergers and acquisitions and transformational projects.

Skills

ER experience

Communication

Influence

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Negotiation with unions

Job description

Salary: Competitive with car/allowance, bonus and Veolia benefits

Location: Predominantly covering operational sites in the North West of the UK, however there will be an occasional requirement to travel nationally.

When you see the world as we do, you see the chance to help the world take better care of its resources, and help it become a better place for everyone. It's why we're looking for someone who's just as committed as we are, to push for genuine change and bring our ambition of Ecological Transformation to life.

We know that everyone here at Veolia can help us work alongside our communities, look after the environment, and contribute to our inclusive culture.

What we can offer you:

• Access to our company pension scheme
  
• Discounts on everything from groceries to well known retailers
  
• Access to a range of resources to support your physical, mental and financial health; so you can lean on us whenever you need to
  
• 24 hour access to a virtual GP, 365 days a year, for you and family members in your household
  
• One paid days leave every year to volunteer and support your community
  
• Ongoing training and development opportunities, allowing you to reach your full potential
  
• Employee financial wellbeing support - Stream: early access to your earned pay, savings, budgeting, financial coaching & rewards.

What you'll be doing:

The Employee Relations Specialist will provide specialist advice and solutions in accordance with current legislation on all employee relations matters to managers across regional sites. This will include, but is not limited to, complex disciplinary cases, grievances, investigations, TUPE transfers, restructures and capability management.

The post holder will coach and upskill line managers on all employee relations matters to ensure that all processes are procedurally and legally compliant, thereby minimising organisational risk.

We are currently seeking an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to join our Treatment team and make a real impact across our business.

You will predominantly support our Treatment West business, which covers the Shropshire and Telford region and the Merseyside and Halton business units - a key position within a heavily unionised environment where strong partnership working is essential.

You will build and maintain collaborative relationships with union representatives at local level, supporting managers through pay negotiations and helping to resolve trade disputes effectively.

Working as part of the wider Employee Relations team, you will coach and develop line managers into skilled people leaders who confidently tackle Employee Relations challenges and create a workplace where people genuinely want to work.

You will take strategic ownership of absence management, working collaboratively with the Employee Relations Advisor and managers to reduce absence levels and build a healthier, more motivated workforce.

Additionally, you will lead on TUPE transfers, Mergers and Acquisitions, and transformational projects, managing seamless transitions, keeping stakeholders engaged, and guiding the organisation through change with skill and clarity.

What we're looking for:

• Proven Experience within an ER role within a unionised environment.
• ER experience including advising on complex case work and litigation (up to and including managing Employment Tribunal claims) with the ability to apply the relevant legal principles and risk assessment.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to interact across all levels of management and operational teams.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving ability and ability to deliver results to demanding deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Due to the travelling element of this role, a driving licence would be highly desirable and beneficial.
  

We're proud to have been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This consistent recognition reflects our commitment to our people, demonstrating that Veolia is not just transforming the environment, we're also transforming what it means to have a rewarding, purposeful career.

We're dedicated to supporting you throughout your application journey, offering adjustments where reasonable and appropriate. As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who opt-in to the Disability Confident scheme, and meet the minimum criteria for our roles.

We're also committed to ensuring that all applicants and colleagues receive fair treatment without discrimination on any grounds, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.