Senior Employee Relations Specialist

At Cleo, we are embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Cleo is a profitable, fast-growing unicorn with over $200 million in ARR and growing over 2x year-over-year. This is a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.

Employee Relations (ER) is a new functional area for Cleo, and you will be important in defining the frameworks we use to manage sensitive employee topics. You will have the opportunity to build our ER case management framework from scratch, in collaboration with our People Partnering team. In addition to building out our ER framework, you will also work on tier one case resolution, ensuring risk is managed appropriately for Cleo while maintaining best practice in everything you do.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage, investigate, and resolve complex employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, grievances, and complaints.
• Ensure thorough documentation of cases, adherence to timelines, and compliance with applicable laws and company policies.
• Interpret and apply HR policies, procedures, and programs to ensure consistent and fair treatment of employees across the organisation.
• Partner with legal counsel to ensure that actions comply with employment laws and regulations (EEOC, FMLA, ADA, etc.).
• Monitor trends in employee relations and provide recommendations to improve policies and practices.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and HR colleagues on handling employee relations issues effectively and legally.
• Develop and conduct training sessions for managers on employee relations topics, such as conflict resolution, performance management, and workplace harassment.
• Act as a neutral party to facilitate mediation and resolution of conflicts between employees or between employees and management.
• Prepare and present reports for senior management, providing actionable recommendations based on data.
• Mentor junior members of the HR team, providing expertise and advice on complex employee relations matters.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR) is preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, with a strong understanding of employment laws and conflict resolution techniques.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive situations diplomatically and confidentially.
• Advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with teams across the organisation.

What do you get for all your hard work?

• A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles.
• This position is a BP3 level and we can pay £55 - £72k depending on experience.
• Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms.
• A clear progression plan.
• Flexibility in work arrangements.
• Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months.
• Generous pay increases for high-performing team members.
• 25 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo, up to 30 days).
• 6% employer-matched pension in the UK.
• Private Medical Insurance via Vitality, dental cover, and life assurance.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo.
• Regular socials and activities, online and in-person.
• Online mental health support via Spill.

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.