Employee Relations Specialist

URBN Urban Outfitters, Inc.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global retail company located in London is seeking an Employee Relations Advisor. This role involves managing a variety of employee relations cases, providing expert guidance to teams, and ensuring compliance with UK employment law. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in an ER-focused HR role, excellent judgment, and the ability to influence stakeholders. Perks include flexible working hours, employee discounts, and wellness programs.

Benefits

Flexible start and finish times

Bring your dog to work

Employees Assistance program

Free gym and wellness room

Private Medical Insurance

Up to 40% discount at URBN Brands

One paid volunteer day

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Strong experience in ER-focused HR role at Senior Advisor or Manager level.
• Proven track record in managing complex ER cases.
• Solid working knowledge of UK employment law.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a wide range of ER cases including disciplinary and grievance.
• Provide solution-focused advice to managers.
• Prepare case documentation and conduct investigations.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Strong communication skills

Judgment and risk assessment

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Job description

About Us

URBN UK Limited is part of the URBN Group, a global retailer, with its European Head Office located in London. Its retail offering in Europe takes the form of three brands.

With stores in more than 10 European countries and a strong e-commerce presence, we’re driven by the same core values as our customers, and we approach our work with a sense of community and purpose that sets our brands apart. We love what we do.

Role Summary

You will act as a trusted advisor to our retail, head office, shared service and distribution center teams, providing expert guidance on all aspects of employee relations. You’ll manage a varied and complex ER caseload, support managers to resolve people issues effectively, and ensure our approach remains fair, consistent, and aligned with our values. Working closely with legal partners, HR colleagues, and operational leaders, you will lead on more complex cases, help mitigate people-related risk, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our ER practices.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading and managing a wide range of ER cases including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, absence, probation, and capability matters.
• Providing clear, solution-focused advice to managers at all levels across retail, head office, shared services, and distribution.
• Acting as the escalation point for complex or high-risk ER issues, including those requiring legal input.
• Preparing case documentation, conducting investigations, and coaching managers to handle issues confidently and consistently.
• Partnering with internal Legal and external advisors to manage tribunal risks and ensure compliance with employment legislation.
• Identifying ER trends, risks, and root causes, sharing insights to help drive proactive improvements.
• Maintaining accurate case records, ensuring appropriate audit trails and data integrity.
• Contributing to policy development and continuous improvement of HR and ER processes.

What You'll Need

Experience & Knowledge

• Strong experience in an ER-focused HR role, ideally at Senior Advisor or Manager level.
• Proven track record of managing complex and high-volume ER cases in a fast-paced environment (retail or multi-site experience desirable).
• Solid working knowledge of UK employment law and best practice.
• Experience liaising with legal advisors and managing risk effectively.
• Experience supporting managers across varied populations (retail, distribution, customer service, or head office functions).

Skills & Behaviors

• Excellent judgement and the ability to assess risk and recommend pragmatic solutions.
• Strong communication skills, able to simplify complex issues and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Calm, confident, and resilient, especially when handling sensitive or high-pressure situations.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously.
• Ability to build trusted relationships quickly and act with integrity and discretion.
• A continuous improvement mindset and confidence challenging the status quo.
• Collaborative style, able to work seamlessly with HR partners, operational leaders, and external advisors.

The Perks

• Work-life balance:
  • Flexible start and finish times
• Bring your dog to work
• Wellbeing:
  • Employees Assistance program to support mental, physical and financial health
• Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount off external gym memberships
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Discount:
  • Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People and more!)
• Community:
  • One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
• Travel:
  • Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
• Continued Development:
  • We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

Equal Opportunity Statement

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.