Employee Relations Specialist

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and proactive Employee Relations Specialist to make a real impact in a dynamic, fast-paced creative retail environment. You will play a vital role supporting the wider People Team and Retail Management team, providing tailored ER support across a unique network of 90 galleries operating in the UK and internationally.

You will thrive on delivering fair and practical employee relations solutions, with strong ER expertise, excellent analytical skills, commerciality and attention to detail. You will be confident in managing sensitive issues, supporting investigations, managing employee life cycle events such as probation, and providing clear, consistent guidance to internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide practical, solutions-focused guidance to managers on employee relations matters, including performance management, absence, conduct, grievance, and policy interpretation, ensuring advice is consistent with company policies, employment law, under the guidance of the Regional People Partner.
• Manage employee relations casework (disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence management etc,), including co-ordinating meetings, preparing documentation, gathering evidence, liaising with internal stakeholders, and ensuring accurate, GDPR-compliant record keeping.
• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of employment law, applying it effectively to casework and policy advice, and keeping abreast of legal updates to ensure compliance.
• Assist the Regional People Partner with HR project delivery, contributing to initiatives that support employee engagement, organisational change, and company culture.
• Provide administrative and procedural support for ER processes, including minute-taking at formal meetings and hearings, scheduling and co-ordinating case-related meetings, and ensuring consistent documentation standards are maintained.
• Support the operational processing of employee lifecycle activities, including family-friendly, flexible working requests, probation reviews, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Analyse people data and ER trends, such as ER cases, absence patterns, and workforce metrics. Support the Regional People Partner in using engagement survey insights and data to drive pro-active improvements.
• Support the Regional People Partner with cyclical people processes, such as the annual pay review and reward initiatives, by co-ordinating communications, preparing supporting data, and ensuring consistency in application across teams.

What you’ll bring:

• Proven experience in a generalist HR Officer or Employee Relations Specialist role.
• CIPD level 5 qualified or equivalent experience, a strong working knowledge of employment law.
• Thrives working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to challenge and advise at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in breaking down data and translating insights into meaningful actions within the people function.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint, as well as other internal and external systems.
• Clean driving licence and access to a car, and a willingness to travel as required to support gallery teams.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working: 3 days in our Lichfield head office, 2 days from home.
• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays).
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Employee Loyalty Scheme: You’ll have exclusive access from day one to exclusive discounts on selected artwork.
• As part of your benefits package, you will enjoy savings at high street retailers, food outlets, leisure activities, and health (including gym memberships), along with access to a range of wellbeing services including a 24/7 GP helpline and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).