Employee Relations Partner

Arena do Tempo; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK bank is seeking an Employee Relations Partner to support complex organizational change while ensuring compliance with UK employment law. The role involves mentoring and providing expert advice to managers and People Advisors. Ideal candidates have extensive ER experience, strong communication skills, and a pragmatic approach to balancing compliance with business needs. This position offers a hybrid working model and an initial 6-month contract.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as an ER Specialist or Advisor, managing high-volume ER cases.
• Deep knowledge of UK employment law and HR policies.
• Ability to conduct thorough workplace investigations.

Responsibilities

• Support managers in complex organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with UK employment law and internal policies.
• Coach and mentor People Advisors in ER case management.

Skills

Employee Relations

UK employment law

Negotiation

Coaching

Communication

Mediation

Job description

Our client, a leading UK bank, is seeking an Employee Relations Partner to help shape a positive, fair, and inclusive workplace. You’ll support managers and the People Team through complex organisational change, ensuring compliance with UK employment law, ACAS guidance, and internal policies. As a trusted escalation point, you’ll provide expert ER advice, mentor People Advisors, and drive continuous improvement – making a meaningful impact on the overall employee experience.

Location – Hybrid: London, Cardiff, Southampton or Manchester offices (3 days per week)
Rate – £380 per day (Inside IR35)
Hours – Standard Business Hours
Start – ASAP
Duration – Initial 6‑month contract

Responsibilities

• Support managers and the People Team on complex organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure best practice and compliance with UK employment law, ACAS guidelines, and internal policies.
• Facilitate strong communication between leaders and colleagues to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Ensure accurate reporting of ER data for robust analytics, including trend analysis and insights.
• Act as an escalation point for People Partners and People Advisors on complex ER matters.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve processes for better employee experience.
• Coach and mentor the People Advisors in complex ER case management to promote knowledge transfer.
• Utilise mediation to resolve issues informally through facilitated conversations.

Essential Skills & Experience Required

• Significant experience as an ER Specialist or Advisor, managing a high volume of complex and high‑risk ER cases end-to-end, preferably within a fast‑paced or large organisation.
• Deep knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS codes of practice, and best‑practice HR policies and procedures.
• Proven ability to conduct thorough, impartial, and sensitive workplace investigations, including whistleblowing and complex grievances.
• Demonstrable track record of advising and coaching senior stakeholders and managers effectively on ER matters, risk mitigation, and policy application.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Experience in a heavily unionised environment and managing collective consultation processes.
• Accredited mediation skills or experience in formal workplace mediation.
• Experience contributing to the development and implementation of ER policy and training.
• A pragmatic, commercially focused approach to ER, balancing legal compliance with business objectives and employee engagement.