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- Tasks: Lead the Employee Relations function and develop a high-performing team.
- Company: Join a progressive business that values its people and fosters growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and career development support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior role while shaping the future of Employee Relations.
- Qualifications: Extensive ER expertise and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid role with travel; based in South East or South West England.
The predicted salary is between 67000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: This is a hybrid role where you’ll be based from home with regular travel for meetings. Candidates must be based in the South East or South West of England.
Job Type: Full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Salary: Starting from £67,000 (FTE) per annum depending on experience and location. We offer a competitive salary package aligned with current market rates for this role. The final offer will reflect your skills, experience, and qualifications, alongside our commitment to internal equity.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading the Employee Relations function
- Owning the strategy and roadmap for Employee Relations — setting priorities, focus areas and plans for growth
- Being accountable for the quality and consistency of all ER advice and delivery
- Shaping and evolving our ER offer, including propositions, frameworks and toolkits
- Acting as the most senior ER lead — advising clients, supporting colleagues, and representing Fitzgerald externally
- Monitoring legal, social and workplace trends to keep our ER approach modern and relevant
- Leading complex client work
- Acting as a senior advisor to key client accounts, building trust at executive and board level
- Leading and overseeing complex ER matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, investigations, restructures, redundancy, TUPE and changes to terms and conditions
- Reviewing and quality-assuring ER work across the team to maintain our high standards
- Drafting and reviewing contracts, policies and procedures
- Delivering the ER function’s billable income targets and holding a personal billable target
- Ensuring work is well scoped, priced appropriately and delivered profitably
- Supporting account growth and new opportunities through excellent delivery and trusted relationships
- Line managing ER Managers and Senior ER Specialists — coaching them to lead confidently and spot risks early
- Building a positive, high-performing culture where people feel supported, stretched and proud of their work
- Identifying future capability needs and leading recruitment as the team grows
- Sharing expertise and building ER capability across Fitzgerald
About you:
You’re an experienced Employee Relations leader with deep technical expertise, strong commercial awareness and a genuinely human approach. You’ll bring:
- Significant experience leading and developing ER teams
- Extensive ER expertise, including complex, high-risk cases (up to and including Employment Tribunal)
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law, TUPE, restructuring and redundancy
- Experience advising senior leaders and influencing at executive or board level
- Confidence operating in a billable, target-driven professional services environment
- Proven ability to manage risk while balancing legal compliance with practical, commercial advice
- Experience drafting and reviewing employment contracts and policies
You’ll also be:
- A clear, credible and engaging communicator
- Calm under pressure and comfortable with ambiguity
- Highly organised, detail-focused and able to juggle multiple priorities
- Collaborative, values-led and invested in developing others
- CIPD Level 7 or equivalent employment law qualification (or qualified by experience at that level) is essential. Experience in consultancy or professional services is highly desirable.
You must be based in the South East or South West of England. You’ll also need a UK driving licence and be happy to travel as required for the role.
The Perks:
We might be biased, but we think this role is exciting, purposeful, and full of opportunity. And because we like to look after our people, here’s what you can look forward to when you join us:
- Competitive salary (starting from £67,000 per annum FTE)
- 25 days’ annual leave to start, rising to 27 after one year and 29 after two years, plus bank holidays
- Career qualifications supported and paid for, with real opportunities to grow
- Monthly homeworking allowance and all equipment provided
- Flexible working patterns for a healthy work-life balance
- Pension scheme options (including salary sacrifice) and 4% employer pension contributions, with a minimum of 4% employee contributions
- Life assurance at four times basic salary
- Shopping discounts platform, flu vaccinations, and technology and cycle-to-work schemes
- Medicash health cash plan and wellbeing benefits (including EAP)
- Enhanced family leave and twice-yearly all-staff get-togethers
- A growing, progressive business with people at its heart
How to apply:
If this sounds like your kind of role, APPLY NOW (you’ll be redirected to our careers site) — we can’t wait to hear from you. Our application process helps you get to know us just as much as it helps us get to know you. Following an initial call to get to know you better, it includes a written assessment, a virtual interview, psychometric testing, and a concluding in-person meeting.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Head of Employee Relations in Exeter employer: Fitzgerald
Contact Detail:
Fitzgerald Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Employee Relations in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Head of Employee Relations role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise answering common interview questions, especially around complex ER cases, so you can showcase your expertise confidently.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! In your conversations, highlight your experience in developing teams and managing complex cases. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and influence at an executive level.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Employee Relations in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Employee Relations role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially your leadership in ER and knowledge of UK employment law.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve led teams or managed complex ER cases successfully. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your written application. We want to see your genuine passion for employee relations and how you approach challenges with a calm and collaborative mindset.
Follow Up: After submitting your application through our website, don’t hesitate to follow up if you haven’t heard back within a week or two. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you on our radar!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fitzgerald
✨Know Your ER Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your Employee Relations knowledge, especially around UK employment law, TUPE, and complex case management. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your expertise and how you've successfully navigated challenging situations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior role, they’ll be looking for strong leadership qualities. Prepare to share instances where you've led teams through complex ER matters or developed high-performing cultures. Highlight your coaching style and how you empower others to excel.
✨Understand Their Business
Research Fitzgerald’s values, mission, and recent developments in their Employee Relations service. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their success. Mention how your vision aligns with theirs during the interview.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and judgement. Think about potential ER challenges they might face and how you would approach them. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly.
