Employee Relations Specialist

SVP; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is recruiting an Employee Relations Specialist to support managers, develop people practices and foster positive workplace relations across the UK.

Reporting to the HR Manager, you will manage a broad range of complex ER cases, provide expert advice, develop management capability and contribute to policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex employee relations casework in HR.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS best practice.
• Experience advising, coaching and influencing managers at all levels.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise demands.
• Sound analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Resilience in handling sensitive situations.
• Proficient IT skills, including MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage a wide variety of employee relations cases (disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance management, etc.).
• Provide expert advice, guidance and coaching to managers on ER issues.
• Conduct investigations, chair formal meetings and support decision-making.
• Ensure cases are concluded within timescales and compliant with policies.
• Support review and development of HR policies and guidance.
• Deliver training/workshops to build management capability.
• Analyse HR data to identify risks and improve compliance.

Skills

Employee relations

UK employment law

ACAS guidance

Coaching managers

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Resilience

MS Office

Education

CIPD qualification (or working towards)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

• Location: Hybrid Working (3 days from home and 2 days based in one of our centre locations in Newcastle, Bradford, Cardiff, Brighton or London)
• Salary: £38,000 per annum
• Contract: Full Time (37.5hrs), Permanent (will consider 30hrs per week)

Make a Difference Through People

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Employee Relations Specialist to join our HR team and play a key role in supporting managers, developing people practices and fostering positive workplace relations across the organisation.

About the Role

Reporting to the HR Manager, you will be the organisation's employee relations specialist, managing a broad range of complex people matters and providing expert advice to managers across the Society. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced HR professional who enjoys balancing operational case management with coaching, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.

You will take ownership of employee relations cases from start to finish, ensuring they are managed fairly, consistently and in line with employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice. You will also help develop management capability, support organisational change and contribute towards creating a positive employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a wide variety of employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance management, absence management, probation, flexible working and whistleblowing matters.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and coaching to managers on employee relations issues.
• Conduct investigations, chair formal meetings and support decision-making processes.
• Ensure cases are managed effectively and concluded within agreed timescales.
• Support the review and development of HR policies, procedures and guidance.
• Deliver training, workshops and practical resources to build management capability.
• Analyse HR data and trends to identify risks, improve compliance and support decision-making.
• Maintain accurate HR records and documentation.
• Provide wider HR support across recruitment, onboarding, contractual changes and leaver processes when required.
• Promote positive employee relations and contribute to an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

About You

We are looking for a confident and credible HR professional who can build strong relationships whilst providing pragmatic, commercially balanced and legally compliant advice.

You will have:

• Significant experience managing complex employee relations casework within an HR environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS best practice.
• Experience advising, coaching and influencing managers at all levels.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Sound analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Resilience and confidence when handling sensitive and challenging situations.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• CIPD qualification (or working towards) is desirable.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a supportive, mission-driven team committed to making a difference in communities across the UK. We offer flexible working, opportunities for professional development, and a chance to contribute to meaningful projects.

Key Dates & Additional Info

• Closing Date:22nd November 2026
• Interviews: WC 30th November 2026

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Whilst we ask that staff have sympathy with Christian values,we celebrate and value people of all faiths or none -diversity and inclusion are at the heart of who we are.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the role, feel free to contact our friendly HR Team on0207 703 3030 (option 5).

Please note: If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of your application, unfortunately, you have not been successful on this occasion. We encourage early applications as we may close the listing early if we receive a high volume of interest.

About the SVP

TheSt Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)has been a beacon of hope since 1844, part of a vibrant international Christian movement working in 153 countries. We are dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by offering practical, person-to-person support to those in need. Our mission is rooted in dignity, compassion, and respect - serving anyone, regardless of faith, race, gender, or background.

Join us in making a real difference -your skills could help transform lives.