At a Glance
- Tasks: Support clients with complex employee relations issues and provide expert advice.
- Company: Dynamic HR consultancy focused on people and business success.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, flexible working, and career development support.
- Other info: Join a friendly team with a commitment to diversity and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in workplaces while navigating sensitive situations.
- Qualifications: Experience in employee relations and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: This is a hybrid role where you’ll be based from home with some travel for meetings. Candidates must be based in the South East or South West of England.
Job Type: Full-time or part time (minimum 30 hours per week). 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.
A bit about us: We’re a full-service HR consultancy that partners with clients to help their people and businesses thrive. Sometimes we act as their in-house HR team, sometimes as an extension of their existing people team — but always as a trusted partner that genuinely cares. People sit at the heart of every business success story. Our job is to help clients create workplaces where those people can do their best work — even when things get tricky.
What you’ll be doing: As an Employee Relations Specialist, you’ll be the person clients turn to when things get complex or sensitive. You’ll bring clarity, fairness and calm confidence to a wide range of ER issues, helping clients navigate situations that really matter. Here’s a snapshot of what your day-to-day might include:
- Managing and advising on a range of ER cases — grievances, disciplinaries, bullying, harassment, whistleblowing and more.
- Carrying out investigations that are thorough, balanced and evidence-based.
- Supporting clients through restructures, redundancies, consultation processes and other business change exercises.
- Advising on negotiated exits, supporting without-prejudice conversations and settlement agreement processes.
- Drafting high-quality ER documentation such as invite letters, outcome letters, and investigation reports.
- Developing, reviewing and updating handbooks, policies and employment contracts.
- Helping clients understand risk — what’s urgent, what’s important and what they need to think about.
It’s meaningful, high-impact work — and no two days are the same.
About you: You’re an experienced Employee Relations professional who knows your stuff when it comes to employment law, policy development, and complex casework. You bring the perfect mix of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and empathy. You’ll need:
- Recent experience as ER/HR/People Partner, HR/People Business Partner, or People Advisor/Partner (where ER formed a core part of the role).
- Strong experience managing complex and various ER casework end-to-end.
- Experience drafting and updating policies, handbooks and employment contracts.
- Experience supporting negotiated exits and settlement agreements.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to explain the complex simply.
- Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
- Skilled in drafting, reviewing, and implementing policies, handbooks, and contracts.
- Confident supporting organisational change projects such as restructures and redundancies.
- Commercially minded and able to balance compliance with practical advice.
- Tech‑savvy and comfortable using Microsoft Office and digital systems.
- Happy to travel occasionally and you hold a full UK driving licence.
Ideally, you’ll be CIPD Level 5 qualified (or equivalent), but what really matters to us is that you bring the practical experience and confidence to deliver great ER advice. Experience working in an HR consultancy would be a bonus.
The Perks:
- 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 where relevant with progression and development opportunities.
- Monthly homeworking allowance and all equipment provided.
- Flexible working patterns to make sure you have a good balance between your work and home life.
- Strong internal and external support and a friendly, collaborative team.
- 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 salary sacrifice schemes.
- Enhanced family leave.
- Twice yearly all staff get togethers.
- Access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme for emotional and practical support.
- A range of other health and wellbeing benefits.
- A growing, progressive business with people at its heart.
We really want our workforce to be representative of all sections of society, so we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Employee Relations Specialist in Milton Keynes employer: Fitzgerald
Contact Detail:
Fitzgerald Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Employee Relations Specialist in Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field and let them know you're on the lookout for Employee Relations roles. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your ER knowledge. Be ready to discuss real-life scenarios where you've managed complex cases. Show us how you bring clarity and calm confidence to tricky situations!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your communication skills! Whether it’s through mock interviews or networking chats, practice explaining complex ER issues simply and clearly. We want to see that you can make the complicated sound easy.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Employee Relations Specialist in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Employee Relations Specialist role. Highlight your relevant experience in managing ER cases and drafting documentation, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain your experience and how it relates to the job description — we want to see how you can simplify complex issues!
Demonstrate Your Empathy: As an Employee Relations Specialist, empathy is crucial. In your application, share examples of how you've handled sensitive situations with care and professionalism. This will help us see your human side and how you connect with clients.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fitzgerald
✨Know Your ER Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of employment law and employee relations best practices. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've managed, showcasing your ability to handle complex situations with clarity and confidence.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As an Employee Relations Specialist, you'll need to explain complex issues simply. Prepare examples of how you've communicated sensitive information effectively in the past, whether through written documentation or verbal discussions.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
Be prepared to talk about how you manage multiple priorities and stay organised, especially when dealing with various ER cases. Share specific tools or methods you use to keep track of your workload and ensure thoroughness in your investigations.
✨Emphasise Your Empathy and Commercial Awareness
Employers want to see that you can balance compliance with practical advice. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated difficult conversations while maintaining a focus on the business's needs, demonstrating your understanding of both people and commercial aspects.