PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST in Bourne End

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to join a busy and established HR team. This is a hands-on ER-focused role for someone who is confident operating as a subject matter expert in employee relations and UK employment law, providing pragmatic advice to managers and stakeholders across a broad range of complex people matters. You will take ownership of employee relations cases from initial advice through to resolution, while also coaching managers, improving HR processes and policies, and supporting wider organisational change.

The Role

• Act as the key ER subject matter expert, providing practical and commercially focused advice on UK employment law and employee relations.
• Manage end-to-end ER casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, absence, conduct, flexible working and workplace conflict cases.
• Handle complex and sensitive employee relations matters with a high degree of discretion and professionalism.
• Coach and advise managers, helping to improve their confidence and capability in managing people issues.
• Support and advise on organisational change, including restructures, redundancies, TUPE and consultation processes.
• Prepare and review formal ER documentation, including investigation reports, outcome letters, consultation documentation, settlement agreements and tribunal-related correspondence where required.
• Manage DSARs, employment-related legal enquiries and escalated ER matters, working with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.
• Keep up to date with changes to UK employment legislation, case law and HR best practice.
• Review and develop HR policies, procedures and supporting documentation.
• Analyse ER trends and people data to identify potential risks and opportunities.
• Work with Occupational Health and other external providers on absence, employee relations and compliance matters.
• Maintain accurate, confidential ER records and ensure appropriate GDPR compliance.
• Support manager training and develop practical guidance and toolkits around people management and ER.
• Contribute to wider HR projects, employee engagement, wellbeing and people initiatives.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong, demonstrable Employee Relations experience, rather than a predominantly generalist HR background. You will ideally have:

• ~4–5+ years' experience within an HR Advisory, Employee Relations Specialist or similar ER-focused position.
• ~ Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations best practice.
• ~ Proven experience independently managing complex disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance and absence cases.
• ~ Experience advising and coaching managers through difficult and sensitive employee situations.
• ~ Experience supporting redundancies, restructures, TUPE and consultation processes.
• ~ Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge and influence managers where appropriate.
• ~ Experience producing formal HR/ER documentation and correspondence.
• ~ High levels of discretion, professionalism and emotional intelligence.
• ~ Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities.
• ~ Experience designing or delivering manager training would be advantageous.
• ~ CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience is preferred.
• ~ Experience with an HRIS such as Workday would be beneficial.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ER professional to take ownership of a broad and varied employee relations remit within a collaborative HR environment. The role offers the opportunity to become a trusted ER partner to the business, working closely with managers and HR colleagues while having a genuine impact on employee relations, management capability and HR processes.