Employee Relations Business Partner

Together Housing Group; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A major housing association in the UK seeks an Employee Relations Business Partner to tackle complex employee relations challenges. This role involves advising on investigations, coaching leaders, and designing engaging training programmes. Candidates should possess extensive HR experience, strong knowledge of employment law, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary with benefits, hybrid working arrangements, and the opportunity to contribute to a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Benefits

Starting salary of £46,406 per annum

27 days holiday + bank holidays

Hybrid working arrangements

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Extensive operational HR experience focused on employee relations.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Proven ability to coach and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as the subject matter expert on employee relations issues.
• Provide specialist advice on investigations and disciplinary cases.
• Design and deliver engaging training programmes for managers.
• Build relationships with Trade Unions and Employee Representatives.

Skills

Complex employee relations casework

Stakeholder influencing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent)

Relevant employment law qualification

Job description

Overview

We are excited to offer a brand-new opportunity to join our People Team as an Employee Relations Business Partner. This is a high-impact ER role for an experienced professional who thrives on solving complex people challenges, influencing leaders, and shaping fair, consistent, and legally sound employee relations practice across a large, diverse organisation.

About Together Housing Group

We are one of the largest housing associations in the North of England, managing over 38,000 homes. We are a non-profit organisation, meaning any money we make is invested back into the company for the benefit of our residents and local communities.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to having a Diverse and Inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from candidates with any of the nine protected characteristics. We are also proud to be a Disability Confident employer. Further information can be found at Equality and diversity - Together Housing Group.

Responsibilities

• Act as the organisation\'s subject matter expert on complex employee relations issues
• Provide specialist advice and oversight on investigations, disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness absence, and suspension cases
• Ensure ER processes are managed consistently, in line with employment legislation, ACAS Codes of Practice, and internal policies
• Design and deliver engaging training programmes to build managers\' confidence and capability in handling ER matters
• Coach managers and senior leaders to anticipate, manage, and resolve issues early, reducing risk and improving outcomes
• Act as a mediator in complex or sensitive cases, supporting fair and timely resolution
• Analyse ER trends and hotspots, working with senior leaders to develop targeted action plans
• Drive a consistent, high-quality ER approach across the Group
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions and Employee Representatives
• Contribute to projects that enhance our reputation as a sector-leading employer
• Keep the People Team and managers up to date with changes in employment law and best practice
• Act as a professional ambassador for the People Team, internally and externally

Requirements

• Extensive experience in operational HR with a strong focus on complex employee relations casework
• In-depth knowledge of employment law, case law, HR best practice, and Codes of Practice, with the ability to apply this pragmatically
• Experience working within a unionised environment
• Proven experience of coaching and influencing stakeholders at all levels
• Experience designing and delivering training and development programmes
• Strong analytical skills, with experience using people data and HR systems to inform decisions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Confident, credible, and collaborative approach
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple complex cases simultaneously
• Flexible, proactive, and solutions-focused mindset
• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent), or working towards
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Relevant employment law qualification
• Accredited workplace mediation qualification (desirable)
• Ability to travel across office bases and sites as required

Benefits

• Starting salary of £46,406 per annum - Pay award pending
• 27 days holiday (rising to 32 over 5 years\' service) + bank holidays
• Hybrid working with a mix of office, site, and home working. Presence at Blackburn, Halifax, or Wakefield offices may be required for meetings and stakeholder engagement. Location-flexible, with weekly office attendance
• You will be working 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday (occasional evening or weekend work may be required). Flexible arrangements are in line with our Smart Working culture
• Employee benefits details available via the Employee Benefits Link

THG reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient numbers of applications are received. Therefore, please apply without delay.

Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.

Due to the nature of the role involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post is subject to a Basic Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.

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