Senior Employee Relations Advisor

Uhleicester; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Advisor to provide expert ER guidance across the Trust, supporting Clinical Management Groups and corporate departments. The role combines hands-on casework with coaching, training and service improvement, including line management of ER Advisors.

The post offers hybrid working with regular on-site presence across UHL sites to support collaboration and relationship building.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualification at diploma level, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience of managing complex employee relations cases and advising on terms and policies.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law and HR practice with risk awareness.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills; ability to influence and negotiate.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative advice to managers and staff on complex ER matters and employment legislation.
• Independently manage complex, high-risk ER casework including disciplinary, sickness absence and changes.
• Coach and mentor managers in investigations and formal processes; advise on fairness and risk.
• Represent People Services at formal panels and support ET preparation where required.
• Line manage ER Advisors and provide supervision and quality assurance.
• Analyse workforce data to identify trends and inform interventions; maintain case records.
• Design and deliver training for managers on ER, attendance and performance management.
• Lead a portfolio, ER project, or service improvement initiative in People Services.

Skills

Advanced HR advisory

Presentation skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

CIPD Diploma or equivalent

Degree or equivalent experience

Associate CIPD membership

CPD evidence

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Go back University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Senior Employee Relations Advisor

The closing date is 27 October 2026

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Employee Relations Advisor to provide professional, comprehensive and timely advice across the full range of employee relations matters. Working with Clinical Management Groups (CMGs) and corporate departments, you will support managers and colleagues to apply Trust policies, national terms and conditions and employment legislation fairly, consistently and confidently.

You will independently manage complex and high-risk casework, including disciplinary, resolution, sickness absence, ill-health capability and performance. You will coach managers through investigations and formal processes, promote early and informal resolution, and help embed our Being Fair culture through proportionate, evidence-based and risk-aware advice.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ER professional who enjoys combining hands-on case management with coaching, training and service improvement. You will line manage ER Advisors, provide day-to-day professional supervision to junior colleagues, use workforce and casework data to identify risks and trends, and lead or contribute to a designated corporate portfolio or ER project.

The role offers opportunities for hybrid working alongside regular on-site working to support collaboration and relationship building. Flexibility is required across all UHL sites.

Main duties of the job

Provide authoritative advice to managers and staff on complex employee relations matters, national and local terms and conditions, Trust policies and employment legislation.

Independently manage complex and high-risk casework, including disciplinary, resolution, sickness absence, ill-health capability, performance and organisational change, presenting management cases up to and including dismissal where required.

Coach and mentor managers undertaking investigations and formal processes, advising on investigative strategy, evidence, procedural fairness, consistency and organisational risk.

Represent People Services at formal panels and support Employment Tribunal preparation where required, liaising with legal advisers and senior stakeholders.

Line manage ER Advisors and provide day-to-day supervision, mentoring and quality assurance to support legally compliant, consistent and timely advice.

Analyse workforce and casework data to identify trends, risks and hotspots, recommend targeted interventions, and maintain accurate and up-to-date case records.

Design and deliver training for managers and team leaders on employee relations, attendance and performance management.

Lead a designated corporate portfolio, ER project or service improvement initiative and work collaboratively across People Services to deliver a high-quality, integrated service.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Job responsibilities

You will bring

CIPD qualification at diploma level, or equivalent relevant experience, together with evidence of continuing professional development.

Significant experience of managing complex employee relations cases and advising on employment terms and conditions, policies and procedures.

In-depth, current knowledge of employment law and HR practice, with the judgement to identify legal, financial, reputational and organisational risks.

Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, challenge constructively and establish credibility at all levels.

Strong analytical, organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to interpret policy, analyse HR data, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

A flexible, self-aware and collaborative approach, with a commitment to customer-focused service, Being Fair, confidentiality, equality, diversity, inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect.

Confidence using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. Experience in a unionised or NHS environment, Agenda for Change, line management, ESR, case management systems, project work or automation and AI tools would be advantageous.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

• Qualified CIPD Diploma Level or equivalent experience
• Degree or equivalent level of experience
• Associate CIPD membership
• Evidence of CPD

Experience

• Significant experience dealing with complex ER cases.
• Demonstrate in depth knowledge of up to-date Employment Law and current HR practice
• Understanding of Being Fair Culture
• IT literate - Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Recent experience of advising on complex employment terms and conditions, and the application of policies and procedures.
• Experience working within a unionised environment
• Experience on advising on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
• NHS experience.
• Experienced in using ESR
• Experience using automation and AI tools such as Co-Pilot

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust