Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Overview

In this role you will act as the organisation’s subject matter expert on employee and industrial relations, partnering with senior leaders and trade unions to manage complex ER matters. You will support organizational change, guide leaders through collective bargaining, and shape workplace relations across a diverse workforce. The role blends hands-on ER case management with strategic advisory to improve engagement and culture. This is a business-facing, impact-driven position embedded in operations with a clear Union relationship focus.

Pay / Benefits

• car allowance
• bonus (10%)
• hybrid working model
• location: North-East London with occasional travel to Cardiff
• permanent, full-time contract
• role embedded in growing, operational organisation

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex ER cases (discipline, grievance, performance, absence)
• Advise senior leaders and managers on industrial relations
• Build credible relationships with trade unions and employee representatives
• Support collective consultation, negotiations and bargaining
• Provide strategic input during organizational change, restructures and workforce planning
• Coach managers to improve ER handling capability
• Ensure compliance with legislation and policies
• Analyze ER trends to identify risks and opportunities
• Contribute to ER policy and framework development
• Support initiatives to boost employee engagement and culture

Key requirements

• Significant experience in a dedicated Employee Relations, Industrial Relations or Senior HR role
• Proven success in a heavily unionised environment
• Strong experience with recognised trade unions
• Demonstrable experience of collective bargaining and negotiations
• Expert knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practices
• Experience managing complex, high-risk ER cases from start to finish
• Ability to build credibility with operational and senior leadership

• Stakeholder management
• Influencing at senior level
• Effective communication
• UK employment law expertise
• Employee relations best practice
• Data analysis of ER trends

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