Employee Relations Officer

Fixed-Term Contract / Secondment opportunity until 30 July 2027.

The London Borough of Hackney is recognised as one of the UK’s most diverse and highest-performing local authorities. We thrive on challenge and change, driven by our core values: Open, Inclusive, Ambitious, Pioneering, and Proactive. We are seeking an experienced and compassionate HR professional to join our team as an Employee Relations Officer on a fixed term basis until 30 July 2027. This is a pivotal role for an individual who is passionate about people and committed to ensuring fairness, legal compliance, and positive working relationships across the Council.

The ideal candidate is someone who approaches ER not just as a compliance function, but as an opportunity to be a trusted partner, solving complex people issues with sensitivity and expertise.

The Opportunity:

Key Responsibilities

• You will act as the specialist lead for Employee Relations, ensuring the consistent and legally compliant application of employment policies and best practice.
• Expert Case Management: Provide specialist advice and leadership on a diverse and complex caseload, including conduct, performance, sickness absence, maternity, and settlement agreements.
• Leading Investigations: Plan, project manage, and lead thorough, objective internal investigations into serious and complex disciplinary and grievance matters, ensuring procedural fairness for all parties.
• Policy & Governance: Contribute to the review and development of HR policies and processes, keeping them fully aligned with current and forthcoming UK employment legislation and case law.
• Stakeholder Partnership: Collaborate effectively with departmental managers, legal counsel, and Trade Union representatives during formal negotiations and consultations.
• Manager Capability: Support the wider HR team in building the confidence and expertise of line managers across the Council to handle ER issues constructively.

What You Will Bring

We are looking for a highly competent professional who is Proud of Hackney and can demonstrate:

• Specialist Knowledge: A deep, current understanding of UK employment legislation and case law, and extensive experience in applying best practice employment policies and procedures in a large, complex organisation.
• Advisory Expertise: Proven experience in advising and partnering with management at all levels on the full spectrum of complex employee relations issues.
• Key Skills: Strong influencing, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrable ability to balance legal risk with human impact. Exceptional tact, discretion, and communication skills are essential for managing highly confidential information.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation. If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s. To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice. This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Prior to applying for a vacancy for a secondment opportunity, please liaise with your line manager and inform them of your interest in applying for the role.

Closing date for applications: 29 March 2026 (22:59)

Interview date: 09 April 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk