HR Employee Relations Specialist

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

About the Role:

We are seeking a proactive and knowledgeable HR Employee Relations Specialist to support our Specialty Insurance business.

Whilst this individual will be responsible for handling all employee relations queries (both informal, and formal) of varying levels of complexity, it will also involve partnering with managers and working closely with senior HR colleagues to execute the commercially aligned people agenda.

This key role will provide hands-on support across a range of HR activities, including employee relations, engagement, talent development and HR data, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Employee Relations

• Support the business to manage all employee relations matters, many of which are complex, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies and processes.
• Partner with managers to address people needs, including performance management and absence management.
• Ensure adherence to employment laws and regulations, mitigating, or taking measured risk and maintaining compliance across the division.
• Proactive policy and process improvement as required.

Engagement

• Support employee engagement initiatives, helping to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Support senior HR colleagues when collaborating with senior leaders to address feedback from employee surveys and exit interviews and drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate training programs to address skill gaps and support employee development, in partnership with our Learning Partner.
• Conduct exit interviews and report on the findings appropriately to suggest recommendations to senior HR colleagues.

Change Management

• Facilitate change management processes (including redundancy) during organisational restructuring.
• Lead and support HR due diligence and integration activities in mergers and acquisitions, ensuring compliance with employment laws and company policies.
• Manage end-to-end employee transition processes under TUPE regulations, including consultation processes, communication and harmonisation planning.
• Support in ensuring seamless cultural and operational integration of employees, with support from COEs including onboarding, HR system alignment and communication.
• Alongside senior HR colleagues, legal, and compliance, assess HR risks and develop mitigation strategies during M&A transactions.

General HR

• A trusted advisor to managers, and first point of contact for HR-related queries within the Specialty Insurance division, providing expert advice on policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Support senior HR colleagues with the annual performance and compensation review, partnering with managers where necessary.
• Collaborate with senior HR colleagues to implement initiatives and execute on projects aligned with organisational goals, such workforce planning and diversity and inclusion.

Talent & Development

• Work alongside the Group Talent Acquisition team on external hiring and internal mobility, including approving offer letters and contracts before issuance to candidates.
• Coordinate learning and development initiatives, ensuring employees have access to the right training and career growth opportunities, based on business needs.

HR Data and Reporting

• Analyse HR data and trends, and display in a clear and compelling way to support senior HR colleagues in providing insights and presenting recommendations to senior management.

Experience and Skills Required:

• Demonstrable experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Proven experience managing HR aspects of mergers, acquisitions and business integration, with sound understanding of TUPE regulations.
• Experience with change management during business restructuring and integrations.
• Working in a past paced, ideally matrixed organisation where challenges are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
• Analytical mindset and the ability to interpret, leverage and display HR data for presentation to Senior management for decision-making.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent (desirable).
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Financial Services experience (desirable but not required).

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.