Employee Relations Specialist

Employee Relations Specialist

Location:

Exeter (1 day per week onsite)
Rate: £300 per day (Umbrella)

Contract:

6 months
Working Pattern:
Hybrid (1 day onsite per week)

The People team plays a key role in shaping organisational performance and employee experience. As an Employee Relations Specialist Partner – Casework, you will lead and develop the ER casework function, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent and legally compliant service. You will manage complex employee relations cases, provide expert employment law advice, and act as a key escalation point for sensitive and high-risk matters.

The role also focuses on strengthening ER capability across the organisation through coaching, service improvement, and continuous enhancement of casework processes.

• Act as the Employee Relations subject matter expert, leading on complex casework including disciplinary, grievance, performance and absence management cases.
• Provide expert advice and escalation support for complex ER cases, including those with potential Employment Tribunal risk.
• Lead and develop the ER casework function, ensuring consistency, compliance, and high-quality outcomes aligned to employment law and policy.
• Drive continuous improvement across ER processes, case management approaches, and service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, including senior leaders, HR colleagues, Trade Unions (e.g. Prospect), and external providers such as Occupational Health and EAP services.
• Coach and support managers in handling employee relations issues effectively and confidently.
• Use people data, metrics, and reporting to identify trends and inform proactive ER interventions and improvements.
• Champion ethical, fair, and consistent people practices that enhance employee experience.
• Support organisational change and contribute to innovation within the People function.

• Significant Employee Relations experience within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Proven experience managing complex ER casework, including escalated and high-risk cases.
• Experience influencing and advising senior stakeholders.
• Trade union engagement experience (desirable).
• Experience using HR data and metrics to improve service delivery.
• CIPD qualification (or equivalent professional experience).

• Making effective decisions in complex ER scenarios.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage a high-quality, customer-focused ER service.
• Delivery at pace across multiple priorities.

• Ethical and fair approach to people practice.
• Collaborative working across teams and stakeholders.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong focus on employee experience and service quality.