Are you passionate about fostering a positive, inclusive, and resolution-focused work environment? Do you thrive on ensuring policy and procedures are applied consistently, fairly and transparently? Can you confidently coordinate and manage employee relations casework of a full spectrum of matters which are often complex, providing expert guidance and advice? If so, we invite you to apply for our role of Senior Employee Relations Advisor. 

This role plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing proactive employee relations action plans, with a focus on conflict prevention and resolution ensuring compliance with employment legislation and best practices. 

Your work will directly contribute to fostering an environment of mutual respect, open communication, and early resolution of workplace concerns, providing expert guidance to our People Advisers and People Business Partners within our team as well as well as wider stakeholders, senior leads and managers across the business. 

Job purpose

• Support a proactive and high-quality Employee Relations (ER) case management function that fosters a positive, fair, and inclusive workplace culture.
• Support the effective resolution of complex people issues through expert advice, coaching, and partnership with managers, trade unions, and other key stakeholders.
• Champion early intervention, conflict prevention, and employee engagement by using case data, insights, and feedback to inform continual improvement.
• Support the development and evolvement of policies and procedures to ensure they remain compliant with current and future legislative changes
• Support fair, reasonable and effective case outcomes, while prioritising practical application and employee experience.
• Support training, stakeholder engagement, and analysis initiatives that promote a respectful, supportive, and resolution-focused work environment.

Key responsibilities

• Support the People Policy and Relations Managers in implementing the People Strategy, with a strong focus on proactive employee relations case management, early conflict resolution, and promoting a culture of trust, fairness, and open communication.
• Support complex and sensitive ER casework, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, and absence management cases, providing expert advice, coaching, and challenge to managers and appeal panels.
• Support the preparation for any employment tribunal cases, liaising with external solicitors and other legal support if appropriate, to ensure timely, compliant, and consistent administration of the case.
• Devise and maintain case management tools, internal systems, and reports to monitor ER activity, identify trends, and inform proactive strategies, training, and policy improvements.
• Review post-investigation and disciplinary recommendations and collaborate with our People Partners to ensure consistent and effective implementation across faculties and departments.
• Provide support to managers & trade unions to resolve workplace issues collaboratively, facilitating informal resolution where appropriate.
• Support in the delivery of coaching, training, and awareness sessions for managers and employees on effective employee relations, respectful workplace behaviours, promoting a supportive and inclusive work environment and working relationships, free from discriminatory behaviour.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of policies and procedures, ensuring they are practical, legislatively compliant, and support effective ER case management and positive workplace relationships.
• Monitor external developments in employment legislation, case law, and best practice to ensure the Company’s ER approach remains compliant, fair, and progressive.
• Collaborate with the EDI and Student Casework Teams to support the effective operation of the Report and Support platform, promoting early intervention, awareness campaigns, and consistent handling of people-related concerns.
• Support the People Policy and Relations Managers in delivering key ER projects, including management of Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Programme contracts, ensuring services meet the needs of colleagues and the wider community.
• Champion the Company’s values through equitable and inclusive practices, promoting good relations, fairness, and respect across all aspects of employee relations work.
• Undertake additional project work and duties commensurate with the role as required.

Person Specification

1. Level 7 Human Resources Management qualification or equivalent; or equivalent experience in a relevant employee relations focused role.
2. Member CIPD Professional registration or willingness to work towards membership.
3. Significant experience in advising on complex and sensitive employee relations matters as a HR specialist
4. Experience of providing advice to managers on Employee Relations matters (including change management and TUPE), with the ability to assess risk in advance of providing outcome focused solutions.
5. Experience of supporting and advising other team colleagues, senior leads and key stakeholders in employee relations matters
6. Have excellent knowledge of legislative requirements, including case law and how to use that when giving advice and guidance
7. Experience in developing, implementing, and aligning people policies with organisational values and commitment to inclusive practice and equity to all.
8. Experience of partnership working with Trade Unions as key stakeholders, including consultation and engagement
9. Demonstrated ability to take initiative and drive improvements in employee relations policies, frameworks, and processes.
10. Be able to develop and maintain positive and effective working relationships, even where there are different views and approaches
11. An approach which provides support, guidance and coaching (as needed) to managers to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities for people management
12. Ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines
13. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written with a strong commitment to service delivery
14. Excellent IT skills across the Microsoft Office Suite and experience of using HR Information Systems
15. The ability to speak and/or write in Welsh is desirable.