Employee Relations Specialist

Employee Relations Specialist

Flexible base location with travel required for hearings and meetings

Full Time, Permanent (37.5 hours per week)

Circa £50,000 plus benefits (depending on experience)

Are you passionate about employment law and ready to build on your experience in employment tribunals? If you're looking to grow with a dynamic team that values professional development, we have a role tailored for you!

We're seeking a knowledgeable Employee Relations Specialist to join our central Employee Relations (ER) team. You'll be instrumental in providing expert guidance to managers across our business units on UK employment law, particularly in managing Employment Tribunal proceedings. This role offers a unique opportunity to work closely with stakeholders at all levels and develop your skills further through our comprehensive training programs.

You'll support a range of tribunal claims and complex HR and ER matters. While we're looking for someone with experience in tribunal proceedings such as unfair dismissal or wage disputes, we're ready to provide coaching and training to develop your skills in handling more complex cases as you progress. You'll also collaborate with external partners, including ACAS, solicitors, and barristers, to uphold Serco's high standards in employee relations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Employment Guidance: Provide in-depth advice on UK employment law to HR, ER, and management teams.
2. Tribunal Management: Develop strategies for tribunal cases, guiding stakeholders on risks and case prospects, and supporting our Employment Tribunal Coordinator to prepare all necessary documentation for tribunal hearings including case management preliminary hearings, judicial mediation, and full merits hearings including remedy if necessary.
3. Proactive Trend Monitoring: Track ER and tribunal trends, guiding proactive strategies for emerging issues.
4. Collaborative Partnerships: Liaise with both internal and external stakeholders, including ACAS, unions, solicitors, and barristers.
5. Settlement Negotiation: Advise on and negotiate settlement agreements to ensure cost-effective and fair outcomes.
6. Complex ER Support: Be a subject matter expert and provide guidance on complex employment matters including ad-hoc project support to the ER Case Management team and people managers on HR policy, procedure and process.
7. Horizon Scanning: Prepare and plan for any upcoming changes in employment legislation including communications, training and impact assessments for Serco's key stakeholders.

What You'll Need to Do the Role:

1. Proven experience handling employment tribunal claims in cases such as unfair dismissal or wage disputes, with a willingness to grow into more complex cases through our structured training.
2. Solid understanding of employee relations practices, with the ability to manage various HR issues that arise in the workplace, ensuring fair and consistent treatment of employees.
3. Strong knowledge of Employment Law, coupled with practical and commercial advisory experience.
4. Ability to communicate complex information clearly, accurately, and confidently to a range of stakeholders, ensuring that key messages are understood.
5. Excellent organisational, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
6. Ability to drive process and operational improvements, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the employee relations function while keeping the business's goals and commercial needs in mind.

Why Serco?

At Serco, we partner with governments globally to deliver essential public services across Defence, Justice & Immigration, Health, Transport, Community Services, and Leisure. This means you'll be part of an organisation dedicated to making a real difference in society, supporting communities, and enhancing public life. Joining Serco isn't just about starting a new job-it's about becoming part of a team of passionate individuals driven by impactful work that matters. Here, we're committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive culture, celebrating diverse perspectives, and providing flexibility and wellbeing support to help you bring your best self to work every day.

We believe in investing in our people and prioritise your growth with extensive training opportunities, leadership development, and formal education support. You'll have the tools and encouragement to thrive and advance in your career, whether it's through role-specific training or exploring new paths within Serco. If you're seeking a role that combines professional growth with meaningful work that directly impacts public services, Serco is the place to achieve a fulfilling and rewarding career.

What we offer:

1. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
2. Annual leave purchase scheme.
3. Up to 6% contributory pension scheme.
4. Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
5. A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cash Plans, free flu jabs and more.
6. A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
7. A safe and supportive culture.
8. A company passionate about diversity and inclusion.

Apply

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Serco is a Disability Confident Employer committed to employing and retaining people with disabilities. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates. We're a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard and we actively encourage applications from females, those with disabilities or from an ethnic minority background.