Senior Employee Relations Advisor

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Employee Relations Advisor to provide professional, comprehensive and timely advice across the full range of employee relations matters. Working with Clinical Management Groups (CMGs) and corporate departments, you will support managers and colleagues to apply Trust policies, national terms and conditions and employment legislation fairly, consistently and confidently.

You will independently manage complex and high-risk casework, including disciplinary, resolution, sickness absence, ill-health capability and performance. You will coach managers through investigations and formal processes, promote early and informal resolution, and help embed our Being Fair culture through proportionate, evidence-based and risk-aware advice.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ER professional who enjoys combining hands-on case management with coaching, training and service improvement. You will line manage ER Advisors, provide day-to-day professional supervision to junior colleagues, use workforce and casework data to identify risks and trends, and lead or contribute to a designated corporate portfolio or ER project.

The role offers opportunities for hybrid working alongside regular on-site working to support collaboration and relationship building. Flexibility is required across all UHL sites.

Main duties of the job

• Provide authoritative advice to managers and staff on complex employee relations matters, national and local terms and conditions, Trust policies and employment legislation.
• Independently manage complex and high-risk casework, including disciplinary, resolution, sickness absence, ill-health capability, performance and organisational change, presenting management cases up to and including dismissal where required.
• Coach and mentor managers undertaking investigations and formal processes, advising on investigative strategy, evidence, procedural fairness, consistency and organisational risk.
• Represent People Services at formal panels and support Employment Tribunal preparation where required, liaising with legal advisers and senior stakeholders.
• Line manage ER Advisors and provide day-to-day supervision, mentoring and quality assurance to support legally compliant, consistent and timely advice.
• Analyse workforce and casework data to identify trends, risks and hotspots, recommend targeted interventions, and maintain accurate and up-to-date case records.
• Design and deliver training for managers and team leaders on employee relations, attendance and performance management.
• Lead a designated corporate portfolio, ER project or service improvement initiative and work collaboratively across People Services to deliver a high-quality, integrated service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will bring

• CIPD qualification at diploma level, or equivalent relevant experience, together with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience of managing complex employee relations cases and advising on employment terms and conditions, policies and procedures.
• In-depth, current knowledge of employment law and HR practice, with the judgement to identify legal, financial, reputational and organisational risks.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, challenge constructively and establish credibility at all levels.
• Strong analytical, organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to interpret policy, analyse HR data, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• A flexible, self-aware and collaborative approach, with a commitment to customer-focused service, Being Fair, confidentiality, equality, diversity, inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect.
• Confidence using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. Experience in a unionised or NHS environment, Agenda for Change, line management, ESR, case management systems, project work or automation and AI tools would be advantageous.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.