Employee Relations Specialist - 12 month FTC

A bit about us... Ask people where Nando's comes from and you'll get a different answer every time. Our story actually starts in Rosettenville, a Portuguese neighbourhood in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was 1987 when Robbie Brozin and Fernando Duarte opened their first chicken restaurant. Fast forward five years and Nando's landed in the UK. Now, with over 500 restaurants, our PERi-PERi is a bestselling hot sauce and Nando's has become a big part of culture.

We care as much about our employees, whom we call Nandocas, as we do our legendary, flame-grilled PERi-PERi. Inspired by our Southern African heritage, we value the richness diversity brings and are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful culture for all.

The Employee Relations Specialist will build strong business partnerships to deliver ER solutions aligned with company objectives and contribute to key initiatives to enhance processes, capabilities, and overall Nandoca experience.

A day in the life...

• Serve as a trusted advisor to line managers, providing expert ER guidance aligned with business objectives.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to influence and drive best ER practices.
• Partner with leaders to proactively identify ER trends and implement solutions to enhance employee engagement and retention.
• Manage a high volume of complex ER cases, including grievance, disciplinary investigations, performance, absence management, and gross misconduct.
• Lead on complex ER cases, ensuring risk mitigation and consistency in approach while maintaining fairness and compliance.
• Provide expert guidance on settlements, COT3 agreements, and liaise with legal counsel when necessary.
• Advise on tribunal claims and act as a liaison with external legal support and ACAS where required.
• Coach and upskill managers in handling employee relations effectively, driving capability development.
• Deliver ER-related training sessions, including topics such as discrimination, absence management, investigations, and performance management.
• Create toolkits, templates, and guidance materials to support managers in implementing best practices.
• Stay up to date with employment law and case law developments, translating them into practical guidance for the business.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of ER policies, ensuring alignment with company values and legal requirements.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement initiatives to enhance the ER function’s effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate documentation and record-keeping throughout all ER processes.
• Provide HR support in formal meetings, including coaching and notetaking where required.
• Collaborate with external bodies such as UK Visas and Immigration and Occupational Health to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Support wellbeing initiatives and promote employee support programs.

Hot Skills:

• 3+ years experience in an Employee Relations or HR Advisory role, with exposure to high-volume case management.
• Experience in a hospitality, retail or operational environment is preferable.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, case law, and HR best practices.
• Experience managing complex ER cases, including disciplinary and grievance investigations.
• Proficiency in risk assessment and decision-making within a legal and ethical framework.
• Ability to coach, develop, and empower managers to handle ER issues effectively.
• Confident in delivering training and presenting to varied audiences.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to balance business needs with people priorities.
• Ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization.
• Strong background in stakeholder management.

Extra Hot Benefits:

• Company bonus
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Free Nando's when you're working (and 40% discount when you're not)
• Annual team trips, AKA a free holiday
• Reward Gateway membership and access to great discounts
• Four-week sabbatical every five years you've been with us
• Private healthcare

This role will require periodic travel to our Putney / Manchester office for team meetings and events.