Senior Employee Relations Advisor in Birmingham

Complex Case Management | Senior Stakeholder Advisory | Coaching & Organisational Change

We are recruiting an accomplished Senior Employee Relations Advisor for an established s organisation, offering the opportunity to work on complex, sensitive and commercially significant employee relations matters. This is a specialist ER position requiring considerably more than procedural knowledge. You will need the judgement to navigate challenging cases, the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and the ability to balance employment legislation, business risk and practical outcomes.

Working within a dedicated team of three, operating separately from the HR Business Partner function, you will take ownership of a varied ER caseload while contributing to management capability, process improvement and wider people initiatives.

Approximately 80% of your time will focus on end-to-end Employee Relations case management, including complex and high-risk matters requiring careful judgement, detailed investigation and effective stakeholder management.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Complex ER case management: Independently manage disciplinary, grievance, performance, ill-health capability, long-term absence, appeals and restructuring matters, taking full ownership from initial assessment through to resolution.
• Risk assessment and employment law: Evaluate complex situations, interpret legislation and internal policies, identify legal and reputational risks and recommend proportionate, commercially sound solutions.
• Senior stakeholder advisory: Build credible relationships with senior managers and business leaders, providing clear, confident advice and constructive challenge on sensitive employee matters.
• Formal processes and documentation: Guide investigations, hearings and appeals, preparing robust case documentation, correspondence, recommendations and supporting evidence.
• Management coaching: Support and coach managers through challenging employee situations, helping them develop the confidence and capability to manage issues proactively and effectively.
• Mentoring and knowledge sharing: Provide technical guidance to junior HR colleagues, sharing expertise in employment law, case management and best practice.
• Organisational change and projects: Collaborate with HR Business Partners on restructures, organisational change and people initiatives, alongside improvements to ER policies, frameworks and processes.
• ER insight and continuous improvement: Analyse case trends, identify recurring risks and provide meaningful recommendations to improve people management practices across the organisation.

You will be experienced Employee Relations professional who has developed genuine technical expertise and is comfortable independently managing complex and sensitive cases.

Applicants must have

• A minimum of three years' substantial Employee Relations experience, ideally at ER Advisor, Senior ER Advisor or equivalent level.
• Proven experience independently managing complex ER cases from initial advice and investigation through to formal hearings, appeals and resolution.
• Strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law, with the ability to apply legislation pragmatically in challenging circumstances.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and confidently challenging approaches where necessary.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and maintain ownership of multiple cases at different stages.
• A collaborative approach, with the confidence to coach managers and share expertise across the wider HR function.

Katie Bard is acting as an agency and is an equal opportunities employer.

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