Employee Relations Lead

What you'll bring to the team

Employee Relations Lead

Location:

The People Hub, Basingstoke (Chineham Business Park)

Hours:

Hybrid, 3 days in the office, 2 days from home. The ER Team work on a 7-day rota to support the operational side of our business, with a weekend on-call rota across the team.

Join the team behind the world's favourite places to play!

At Merlin, every unforgettable guest experience starts with our people. As our Employee Relations Lead, you will help create the environment where great teams can thrive. You will be the trusted expert for complex employee relations matters, working alongside managers, People Business Partners and colleagues across the UK Hub to deliver fair, consistent and people-focused outcomes.

You’ll take the lead on a varied portfolio of complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence and performance matters. Bringing sound judgement, empathy and expertise, you will guide cases from start to finish, balancing business needs with a positive employee experience while ensuring compliance with company policies and employment legislation.

Working in partnership with leaders across the business, the Employee Relations Lead will build confidence and capability through coaching, practical guidance and training. Whether supporting a difficult conversation, facilitating a workshop or helping managers navigate formal processes, you will empower others to make informed decisions and handle people matters with confidence.

You’ll also play a key role in shaping how we do things. From identifying trends and sharing insights to supporting policy development and continuous improvement initiatives, you will help us create an employee relations approach that is modern, consistent and built for the future.

Alongside HR and Legal colleagues, you will support high-risk case management, ACAS Early Conciliation activity and employment tribunal preparation. Through your expertise, you will help minimise risk, strengthen governance and ensure our people practices remain fair, transparent and aligned to our values.

As we operate seven days a week, you will also participate in an on-call support rota, providing essential employee relations guidance during weekends and peak operational periods when needed.

Ready to make your next move a playful one? Join us and help create a workplace where people can do their best work, grow together and bring a little more magic to every day!

• Proven experience in an Employee Relations or Senior Employee Relations role, ideally within a shared services or matrix environment.
• Strong experience managing complex and high-volume employee relations casework from initial consultation through to resolution.
• In-depth knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS guidance and employee relations best practice.
• Experience supporting ACAS Early Conciliation and employment tribunal preparation.
• Confident coaching and influencing managers at all levels, building capability and driving positive outcomes.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, manager toolkits and training materials.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to spot trends and turn data into meaningful insights.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, discretion and sound judgement.
• Experience using HR systems and case management tools, such as Service Now, would be advantageous.
• CIPD qualification (Level 5 desirable) or equivalent professional experience.
• Union and collective employee relations experience would be beneficial.

• 40% discount off LEGO® sets and products on the online LEGO Store!

• Merlin Magic Pass: 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world!
• 25% discount in Merlin retail shops and restaurants (a brilliant extra treat when you’re using your Magic Pass to visit!)
• Staff discount codes for Merlin Annual Passes to gift to loved ones!

• Private pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme
• Employee…