Employee Relations Specialist

Ready for a new challenge?

Are you looking for work that makes a difference? Do you want to work with people who learn and grow together?

If so, Opencast could be the place for you. We're a growing technology consultancy that creates user-centred solutions with purpose for clients across government and business.

We're looking for an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to provide expert employee relations support across our organisation, helping managers navigate complex people matters while ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.

This role involves regular collaboration with managers, leaders and colleagues across the business. We're looking for someone who combines strong employee relations expertise with sound judgement, a pragmatic approach and a genuine commitment to creating positive employee experiences.

The role

The Employee Relations Specialist plays a key role within our People Operations team, providing expert advice and guidance across a broad range of employee relations matters.

Managing a varied caseload from initial consultation through to resolution, you'll support managers in addressing people challenges confidently and effectively, ensuring a fair, consistent and legally compliant approach. Alongside case management, you'll use insight from employee relations activity, employment law and organisational practice to help strengthen manager capability, improve policies and continuously develop our approach to employee relations.

We’re looking for people who value in-person collaboration, enjoy building strong relationships, and are passionate about delivering solutions that make a real difference for our people and our clients.

Responsibilities

Working as part of our People Operations team, you'll be responsible for:

• Managing employee relations cases, including complex and sensitive matters, from initial advice through to resolution.
• Providing practical guidance and challenge to managers on employee relations issues.
• Supporting disciplinary, grievance, performance, capability, absence and wellbeing processes.
• Conducting workplace investigations and producing clear findings and recommendations.
• Identifying and managing higher-risk cases, ensuring appropriate escalation and governance.
• Keeping employment law knowledge up to date and translating changes into practical guidance.
• Using insight from casework to improve policies, processes and manager capability.

Essential experience

To succeed in this role, you'll bring employee relations experience and a strong understanding of employment law, together with the ability to balance employee experience, organisational priorities and effective risk management. You'll be able to demonstrate examples of:

• Employee relations and case management: Managing complex employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, performance, capability and absence cases.
• Employment law and investigations: Applying UK employment legislation and conducting fair, evidence-based workplace investigations.
• Manager coaching and stakeholder management: Providing practical advice, guidance and challenge while building trusted relationships.
• Organisation and continuous improvement: Managing competing priorities and using insight to improve policies, processes and ways of working.

Holding a CIPD Level 5 qualification (or above) would be beneficial.

Salary

£40,000 - £50,000 per annum

What we offer

A competitive package including a 7% employer pension contribution, share options, and a discretionary bonus. You’ll also benefit from 25 days’ holiday and access to 3 annual “life happens” days to support unexpected situations.

We provide wellbeing support, ongoing professional development, volunteering opportunities, and the chance to be part of a genuinely supportive team.

Where you’ll work

This role requires regular on-site attendance at our HQ, hub offices and other business locations, alongside the flexibility to work from home. Travel may be required as part of the role and applicants should be able to travel when needed to support business activities and team collaboration.

We include you

We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We’re happy to make adjustments to support your needs.

Want to know more?

Visit our website or email ***email_hidden***