Hays · UK
Join a nationally recognised arts, heritage and cultural organisation to lead and shape a new Employee Relations & Advisory Centre of Expertise. This strategic role offers the opportunity to influence HR strategy, manage complex employee relations, and drive positive change across a diverse, multi-site workforce while embedding inclusive, legally compliant practices.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of People, you will lead a team of Employee Relations Advisors and People Advisors, providing both strategic and operational leadership across employee relations and people advisory services. This newly created role will be responsible for embedding a high-quality Employee Relations and Advisory function, ensuring the delivery of consistent, commercially focused and legally compliant HR support across the organisation.
What You Will Do
Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Employee Relations and Advisory team.
Act as the senior escalation point for complex and high-risk employee relations matters.
Establish and embed employee relations governance, frameworks, policies and procedures.
Support organisational change programmes, restructures, consultations and senior-level casework.
Build strong partnerships with senior stakeholders, people leaders and recognised trade unions.
Oversee employee relations reporting, identifying trends and using data to support decision-making.
Manage external employment law and occupational health providers.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manager capability and employee experience.
Champion inclusive, fair and transparent people practices across the organisation.
What We Are Looking For
Significant experience operating at a senior HR or Employee Relations level within a complex, multi-site environment.
Extensive knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations best practice.
Proven experience leading employee relations teams and developing high-performing colleagues.
Strong experience managing complex and sensitive employee relations cases.
Experience supporting organisational change, restructures, consultations and redundancy programmes.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the credibility to partner senior leaders.
Experience developing HR policies, governance frameworks and people processes.
Strong analytical and reporting capability with a data-driven approach.
Nice to Have
Experience within a unionised environment.
Experience in the public, charity, cultural, education or not-for-profit sectors.
Pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset with strong professional judgement.
Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
If you're an experienced Employee Relations leader looking for a role where you can shape strategy, influence senior stakeholders and drive positive change across a complex organisation, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Matthew Sharman at Hays for a confidential discussion and further information.