Interim Employee Relations Specialist

Catalyst Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalyst Partners is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role focuses on managing ER cases UK-wide, ensuring fair and compliant handling in line with UK employment law and internal policies.

You will support People and Culture Business Partners, maintain case records, track activity, and assist with policy reviews as part of implementing a new ER operating framework.

Qualifications

• Extensive employee relations case handling across disciplinary, grievances, long-term absence and performance matters.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and internal policies.
• Experience supporting managers and HR partners in a regulated financial services setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage ER cases from start to finish in partnership with People and Culture Business Partners and Employment Legal when needed.
• Draft case summaries, investigations, and correspondence; escalate complex matters as required.
• Provide timely advisory support to People and Culture Business Partners within defined parameters.
• Maintain accurate ER case records and produce MI on volumes, themes and outcomes.

Skills

ER case management

UK employment law

Stakeholder support

Financial services knowledge

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

A leading global investment management firm is looking to appoint an Employee Relations Specialist on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

The successful candidate will be an employee relations subject-matter expert with practical experience managing ER cases from start to finish. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong grounding in employee relations who is confident providing pragmatic, high-quality support to managers and colleagues.

This newly established role reports to the Head of ER and will predominantly focus on the effective management of employee relations cases across the UK.

You will ensure cases are handled fairly, consistently and in accordance with UK employment legislation and internal policies and procedures. You will also be responsible for maintaining accurate case records, tracking activity and supporting the analysis of employee relations trends and insights.

The role will provide broader coordination and documentation support to the Employee Relations team, including assisting with templates, process guidance and policy reviews as part of the ongoing development and implementation of a new employee relations operating framework.

Employee relations casework and resolution

• Support People and Culture Business Partners with employee relations cases, including conduct, grievances, long-term absence, flexible-working requests and performance matters that have become contentious.
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day management of cases where appropriate.
• Assist with case summaries, investigations and draft correspondence, working closely with Employment Legal when required.
• Provide advice and guidance to People and Culture Business Partners within agreed parameters.
• Escalate complex matters to the Lead Employee Relations Partner, who will determine whether referral to Employment Legal is required.
• Support the consistent application of People and Culture policies, procedures and relevant employment legislation.

Case administration and reporting

• Oversee the accurate recording of cases within the organisation’s ER case-management system.
• Track case volumes, themes, outcomes and outstanding actions.
• Contribute to the analysis of trends and recurring themes.
• Prepare regular case updates and management information for case-review meetings.
• Support the Employee Relations team with internal reporting.

Advisory and stakeholder support

• Build effective working relationships with People and Culture Business Partners, wider People and Culture colleagues, Employment Legal and managers.
• Respond to employee relations queries promptly and professionally.
• Work in partnership with People and Culture Business Partners to help managers prepare for employee meetings and follow the appropriate processes.

Change management

• Where required, support the Lead Employee Relations Partner with UK collective consultation processes, ensuring that consultation is timely and meaningful and meets all relevant legal, policy and procedural requirements.
• Assist People and Culture Business Partners with individual UK consultation processes.
• Prepare documentation, track meetings and feedback, and help ensure that employees remain informed and are treated fairly throughout the process.

Employee relations and workforce-risk support

• Support organisation-wide employee relations projects and process-improvement initiatives.
• Assist with the development, review and updating of People and Culture policies, guidance and procedures.
• Support initiatives designed to improve manager capability and the employee experience.
• Undertake other reasonable responsibilities consistent with the level and purpose of the role.

The knowledge and experience you’ll need

• Strong employee relations experience gained within financial services, ideally in a regulated investment management, asset management, banking or wider financial-services environment.
• Familiarity with People and Culture information systems or employee relations case-management platforms.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation and good practice.
• Experience working within a regulated, professional-services or corporate environment.

Additional experience that would be helpful

• A CIPD qualification or employment-law background.
• International employee relations experience.