At a Glance
- Tasks: Support employee relations and guide leaders through change activities.
- Company: Join Standard Life, a leader in retirement savings with over 200 years of experience.
- Benefits: Up to £40,000 salary, 38 days leave, private medical cover, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic hybrid role with opportunities for career growth and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on colleague experiences while developing your expertise in employee relations.
- Qualifications: Experience in redundancy processes and knowledge of UK employment law preferred.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Job Type: FTC - until 31/12/2026
Location: Hybrid with travel to our core offices as needed - mainly Edinburgh
Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.
Closing Date: 2nd June 2026
Salary and benefits: Up to £40,000 DOE plus an indicative bonus range of 8%-16%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.
Who are we?
We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.
The role
We’re looking for an expert Employee Relations Advisor to support the delivery of people-related change activity. Working closely with more senior colleagues and stakeholders, you’ll provide practical, compliant ER advice and help ensure a positive and consistent colleague experience. You’ll build your expertise over time, developing the capability to take on and lead more complex work.
- Support redundancy and consultation activity, contributing to elements such as business case review, selection criteria, redeployment approaches, and enhancing the overall colleague experience, with the opportunity to lead smaller activities over time.
- Work in partnership with ER Consultants, HRBPs and senior leaders to support the delivery of people‑led change while developing an understanding of how to balance colleague experience with fair, safe and compliant outcomes.
- Provide well‑informed, risk‑aware advice, drawing on existing knowledge of employment law and best practice, while recognising when to seek guidance on more complex or high‑risk matters.
- Contribute to ER aspects of organisational change, supporting senior team members to ensure decisions are commercially sound, compliant and applied consistently.
- Support and guide leaders through change activity, building confidence in coaching and judgment, whilst escalating more complex or sensitive situations as appropriate.
- Maintain awareness of changes in employment legislation and case law, applying updates to day‑to‑day work with support and building capability over time.
You’ll partner closely with:
- People Leaders across the business
- HR Business Partners, and the wider People Leadership Team
- Other HR centres of excellence such as Reward, Payroll and Talent Acquisition
- External providers including our preferred outplacement support provision
What are we looking for?
Essential Experience:
- Experience supporting redundancy and restructuring activity, contributing to fair and compliant consultation and selection processes, with guidance from senior colleagues, when needed.
- Good working knowledge of UK employment law, with the ability to apply it in straightforward situations and a willingness to build expertise over time. Regulatory knowledge is beneficial but not essential.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships and support HRBPs and leaders, developing confidence to contribute to decision‑making in change scenarios.
- Able to provide clear, practical ER advice on lower‑risk matters, recognising when to seek input on more complex or higher‑risk situations to ensure appropriate outcomes.
We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you.
If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
We’re reviewing applications as they come in and may close this role before the closing date, so apply early to avoid missing out.
Employee Relations Advisor in Birmingham employer: Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
At Standard Life, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values flexibility, inclusivity, and employee well-being. With a strong focus on career development and a supportive work culture, our Employee Relations Advisors benefit from generous annual leave, private medical cover, and opportunities for meaningful engagement in shaping the colleague experience. Located in Edinburgh, we offer a hybrid working model that allows you to balance your professional and personal life while contributing to our mission of enhancing retirement journeys for all.
Contact Details:
Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employee Relations Advisor in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn, especially those in HR or Employee Relations. They can give you insider info about the company culture and maybe even refer you for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of UK employment law. Be ready to discuss how you would apply this knowledge in real-life scenarios, especially around redundancy and restructuring.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your stakeholder engagement skills during interviews. Share examples of how you've built relationships and supported leaders in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to contribute to decision-making in change scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Standard Life.
We think you need these skills to ace Employee Relations Advisor in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Employee Relations Advisor role. Highlight your experience with redundancy and restructuring, and don’t forget to showcase your knowledge of UK employment law. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about employee relations and how your skills align with our needs. Keep it engaging and personal – we love getting to know the real you!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to build relationships and engage with stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can support HRBPs and leaders effectively, so share examples of how you've done this in the past.
Apply Early!:Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We review applications as they come in, and applying early gives you a better chance of standing out. Head over to our website and get your application in today!
How to prepare for a job interview at Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
✨Know Your Employment Law Basics
Brush up on UK employment law, especially around redundancy and restructuring. Being able to discuss relevant legislation confidently will show that you’re prepared and knowledgeable, which is crucial for the Employee Relations Advisor role.
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Think of specific situations where you've supported change or provided ER advice. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will help you demonstrate your experience effectively during the interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Showcase your stakeholder engagement skills by preparing to discuss how you've built relationships in previous roles. Be ready to explain how you’ve collaborated with HRBPs or leaders to achieve positive outcomes in change scenarios.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s approach to employee relations and how they handle change. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you assess if the company culture aligns with your values.
