HR Advisor - UK & Europe (Portugal based)

Locke Hotels; Lisboa; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

edyn seeks an HR Advisor for UK & Europe to lead employee relations across its properties and central teams, navigating investigations, coaching managers, and delivering fair, compliant outcomes.

You’ll work across countries, balancing risk and empathy, maintaining confidential records, and partnering with legal teams while upholding GDPR and edyn values.

Qualifications

• Substantial generalist HR or employee relations experience.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations; European multi-country HR exposure.
• Experience working with ACAS, works councils or external lawyers.
• Experience coaching managers and delivering ER training.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent HR experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations cases across UK and Europe prioritising risk, fairness and timeliness.
• Advise on investigations, documentation and hearings with proper records.
• Coaching managers on investigations and HR policy application.
• Support organisational change and policy updates with HR colleagues.
• Coordinate with external bodies and counsel on disputes as needed.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigations

Coaching managers

GDPR & confidentiality

Stakeholder management

Legal knowledge

Education

CIPD qualification

Tools

HRIS

Payroll systems

Job description

HR ADVISOR - UK & EUROPE

As HR Advisor - UK & Europe, you’ll be the go-to person for all things employee relations across edyn’s properties and central teams. From navigating tricky people situations and complex investigations to coaching managers and finding fair solutions, you’ll bring confidence, care and sound judgement to every challenge. Working across different countries and cultures, you’ll help us create positive workplaces while keeping things fair, compliant and true to edyn’s values.

THE STAGE IS SET

The stage is set for something different. We don’t run conventional hotels; we build places with character and intent.

What began as a small UK aparthotel portfolio has grown into a European collection recognised for design and atmosphere - and we’re now entering a new chapter. As we redefine the brand and evolve our identity, we’re focused on creating spaces that feel compelling, contemporary, and truly distinctive. Locke leads with bold expression; Cove by Locke refines that same spirit into a quieter, more streamlined approach.

Guests come to rest, work, or escape. Comfort is a given - great beds, hot showers, genuine service. But we aim to create moments that feel memorable and a little unexpected, bringing back the sense of mood hospitality often lost.

THE WORK IN YOUR HANDS

Employee Relations Case Management

• Manage a portfolio of employee relations cases across the UK and European operations, prioritising risk, fairness, timeliness and employee experience.
• Advise on and support probation, performance improvement, capability, conduct, disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment, sickness absence and related procedures.
• Plan, lead or support complex and sensitive workplace investigations, including allegations assessment, witness interviews, evidence review, findings reports and recommendations.
• Prepare and review case documentation, including invitations, meeting notes, investigation reports, outcome letters and appeal materials; maintain confidential and accurate records.
• Support managers with formal hearings, appeals and appropriate follow-up actions, ensuring procedural fairness and proportionate decisions.
• Identify patterns and recurring risks from casework and recommend improvements to policies, manager guidance and working practices.

Employment Law, Consultation & External Representation

• Apply working knowledge of employment law and applicable collective agreements across edyn’s operating jurisdictions, seeking local specialist advice where required.
• Coordinate with ACAS in relevant UK disputes, including early conciliation, and liaise with local employment authorities or equivalent bodies where applicable.
• Support consultation and information obligations involving works councils, employee representatives and trade unions where relevant to the jurisdiction and workforce.
• Work with external solicitors and local counsel on complex disputes, settlement discussions and employment tribunal or court proceedings.
• Coordinate evidence, chronology, disclosure, witness information and internal instructions for legal proceedings, under the direction of legal advisers and senior HR leaders.
• Escalate significant legal, financial, reputational or safeguarding risks promptly and maintain appropriate GDPR and confidentiality safeguards.

General Manager Coaching & Training

• Coach General Managers and operational leaders on managing employee concerns early, conducting fair investigations and applying HR policies and local procedures.
• Design and deliver practical training on probation, performance management, disciplinary and grievance processes, investigations, documentation and difficult conversations.
• Provide templates, toolkits, case examples and one-to-one guidance that build managers’ confidence and consistency while reinforcing when specialist HR advice is required.
• Review case quality and manager feedback to identify further training needs and measure improvement in management capability.

Organisational Change & Policy Support

• Support individual and collective consultation activity, restructures, contract changes and other organisational changes in partnership with senior HR colleagues and local advisers.
• Contribute to reviewing policies, procedures and manager guidance to reflect changes in law, case experience and business needs.
• Work collaboratively with Payroll, HRIS and operational teams where case outcomes affect employment records, pay, absence or employee status.

Naturally this is not intended as an exhaustive list of duties. Other duties as reasonably required will form part of this job description.

THE FIRE YOU CARRY

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and the ability to apply relevant frameworks across edyn’s European jurisdictions, including consultation and representation requirements.
• Skilled in conducting impartial investigations, assessing evidence, preparing reports and advising on complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder-management skills, with confidence challenging and supporting senior managers.
• Sound judgement, discretion and resilience when managing confidential, high-risk and sensitive matters.
• Strong organisation, drafting and case management skills, including maintaining accurate records and using HR systems.

YOUR PROVEN TRACK

• Substantial generalist HR or employee relations experience, independently managing disciplinary, grievance, performance and complex investigation cases.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations; European multi-country HR experience is desirable.
• Experience working with ACAS, employee representatives, works councils or external employment lawyers is desirable.
• Experience coaching managers and delivering employee relations training.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent HR experience is desirable; willingness to undertake jurisdiction-specific training is essential.