Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Senior Employee Relations Specialist

£40,000 - £45,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Employee Relations Manager

Department: Chief Operating Office

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week - open to flexible working arrangements

Location: Stratford, London (1-2 days per month) If you would like to discuss options for flexibility please contact us for more details

Closing date: 25 Jan 2024 23:55

Recruitment process: Competency based Interview +Task

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are looking for an ambitious, proactive, and pragmatic Senior Employee Relations Specialist to join our newly created Employee Relations team. This is a critical role for the organisation and key for our HR Ops plan. You will be part of a team of 4 specialists and 1 ER Manager. As a Senior ER specialist, you will take a lead role in managing complex Employee Relations cases and settlement negotiations, as well as coaching the more junior members of the team.

You will come with experience of dealing with a variety of Employee Relations cases and be adaptable enough to work across different areas of the business. We are a large and dynamic organisation with c600 shops across the UK as well as 2,500+ office staff across London and Oxford.

We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations Specialist who can bring with them knowledge of best practice, a people centric approach with a passion for supporting managers and employees to find solutions that work best for all involved. You may also have an interest in data and reporting as you will have the opportunity to support in data analysis and trend spotting.

We are flexible in terms of your background, as long as you are reedy to utilise your skills and experience to not only support and coach managers but also look at opportunities to improve processes.

What will I be doing?

• Act as a subject matter expert on all Employee Relations matters including coaching and developing senior managers to resolve all ER cases such as performance management, conflict resolution, ill health and disciplinary effectively and in line with CRUK policies and procedures and in accordance with legislative requirements.

• Support change projects such as restructures and TUPE.

• Lead on complex cases such as those relating to senior managers.

• Act as a mentor to the team by helping them resolve case queries successfully.

• Work closely with the ER manager to deliver the ER service across the HR function, sharing expertise and best practice within the team.

• Promote a culture of early resolution and open communication focussing on human factors.

• Support case managers to make sound unbiased decisions and ensure colleagues are treated in a human way through robust, credible advice and support.

What skills will I need?

• Proven experience in a similar Employee Relations role, managing complex cases preferably including settlement discussions and employment tribunals.

• Understanding of change management including restructures and TUPE.

• In depth knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and best practices. HR policies and procedures, disciplinary processes, and employee engagement strategies.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact and build relationships at all levels.

• Demonstrated experience in coaching case managers to conduct investigations and manage Employee Relations cases with sensitivity, confidentiality, and impartiality.

• Ability to provide practical, solution-oriented advice and guidance to employees and management on Employee Relations matters.

• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations.

• Demonstrated supervisory experience such as coaching and upskilling team members to develop skills.

To view a full job description please contact

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We're looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our mission to beat cancer. In return, we create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at .

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