Employee Relations Specialist

Public Sector Resourcing; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

UKRI is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist (Inside IR35) for a 6‑month contract, hybrid in Swindon. The role will deliver an efficient ER service, advise on policy and employment law, and support managers through disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence and performance issues.

You will act as SME alongside HR Partners, ensuring fair application of processes and governance, while promoting wellbeing and constructive resolution.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering employee relations casework across a range of issues.
• Ability to coach managers and staff in employment legislation and policy.
• Strong written and verbal communication and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead on wide-ranging ER casework from early intervention to formal processes.
• Act as SME to support managers and investigators with processes in line with UKRI policies.
• Provide HR advice to managers, including health and wellbeing referrals and workplace adjustments.
• Develop and deliver ER learning and personal development initiatives.

Skills

ER case management

Stakeholder engagement

Employment law

Policy interpretation

Communication

Disciplinary & grievances

Microsoft 365

Education

Degree or CIPD (Desirable)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Title

Employee Relations Specialist - (Inside IR35)

General information

Posting ID: PSR1JP00100005

Type of employment: Contract

Organisation: UK Research & Innovation

Contract duration: 6-months

Location: Swindon

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Description & Requirements

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Employee Relations Specialist - (Inside IR35) for a 6 - month contract working on a hybrid basis and with an expectation of 2 days attendance in the Swindon office

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers' money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields - from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

Job Purpose:

To provide an efficient and effective ER service to staff and managers, advising on Innovate UK / UKRI policy and employment law as required. This will include, but may not limited to, matters of disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment, sickness absence and performance management, including supporting managers in the preparation of cases at all stages of the procedure as needed. The postholder will act as a SME (alongside the team of HR Business Partners) to work autonomously to support managers and investigators with formal processes, in accordance with UKRI policies and processes.

Main responsibilities

• Lead on wide-ranging casework; from early intervention and informal resolution to the management of formal processes in respect of performance management, capability, disciplinary & grievances, and probation
• Act as a SME (alongside the team of HR Business Partners) to work autonomously to support managers and investigators with formal processes, in accordance with UKRI policies and processes
• Ensuring that policies and procedures are upheld, challenging managers where required to look after the interests of both the employee and organisation in a fair manner
• Provide wide-ranging HR advice to managers and employees, coaching managers to ensure up-to-date knowledge & application of employment legislation
• Support employees in looking after their health and wellbeing in the workplace; handling concerns, identifying the need for and making occupational health referrals, and implementing workplace adjustments
• Understand and advocate the requirements and interests of the organisation whilst concurrently supporting employee interests and fairness across employment practices, policies and their associated processes
• Support Senior HR Business Partners and Deputy Director of HR with complex HR matters as directed, this may include (but is not limited to) complex ER cases and managing change projects
• Build effective working relationships with managers and staff and with other HR colleagues to support the maintenance and development of best practice policies and procedures.
• Participate as appropriate in the development and delivery of ER learning and personal development initiatives.
• Other ER and HR tasks and projects as directed

Essential

• Strong experience managing the range of ER casework effectively
• Proven experience working with a range of stakeholders, with the confidence to challenge and coach at all levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present information and to treat information confidentially
• A proven track record of being a highly professional self-starter, with the skill to balance creative problem-solving with required consistency, policy and governance
• Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own time effectively.
• Ability to work with ambiguity and conflicting priorities
• A self-motivated, results-focused, and proactive, approach to work, with a strong record of delivery.
• A proven track record of team-focused behaviour
• Sound IT skills and proficiency in the use of spreadsheets and other Microsoft 365 packages.

Desirable

• Degree level education and/or professional development
• Advanced CIPD
• Mental Health First Aid or similar

Eligibility

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant / Commitment

UKRI guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Contractual Notice

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".