Employee Relations Specialist

Reports to: Employee Relations Manager

Contract: Permanent or 12 month fixed-term contract opportunity

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week – open to flexible working arrangements

Salary: £32,000 - £39,000 p.a.

Location: Stratford, London (1-2 days per month) If you would like to discuss options for flexibility please contact us for more details

Closing date: 25 January 2024 23:55

Recruitment process: Competency based Interview +Task

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are looking for an ambitious, proactive, and pragmatic Employee Relations Specialist to join our newly created Employee Relations team. This is a critical role for the organisation and key for our HR Ops plan. You will come with experience of dealing with a variety of Employee Relations cases and be adaptable enough to work across different areas of the business. We are a large and dynamic organisation with over 600 shops across the UK as well as 2,500+ office staff across London and Oxford.

You could be an Employee Relations Specialist looking to develop your skills further in the not-for-profit sector, or an HR Advisor/ HR Manager with a strong focus in Employee Relations. We are flexible in terms of your background, as long as you are ready to utilise your skills and experience to not only support and coach managers but also look at opportunities to improve processes.

What will I be doing?

• Provide expert advice, coaching and development to managers to resolve all ER cases such as performance management, conflict resolution, ill health and disciplinary effectively and in line with CRUK policies and procedures and in accordance with legislative requirements

• Support case managers to make sound unbiased decisions and ensure colleagues are treated in a human way through robust, credible advice and support.

• Work with colleague representatives and case managers to ensure that all cases are resolved collaboratively and efficiently ensuring we mitigate organisational risks in everything we do.

• Mediate and facilitate conflict resolution between parties by promoting open communication, mutual understanding and constructive dialogue to ensure conflict is resolved informally and amicably wherever possible.

• To accurately record and maintain case information and ensure that all case associated paperwork is of a professional standard and in accordance with GDPR and data protection regulation

• To identify opportunities to improve business processes and approach and work with colleagues across HR and the wider organisation to implement these.

What skills will I need?

• Proven experience as an Employee Relations Advisor or a similar role, preferably in a fast-paced and dynamic organisation.

• Thorough knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and best practices related to employee relations

• Strong understanding of HR policies and procedures, disciplinary processes, and employee engagement strategies

• Demonstrated experience in coaching case managers to conduct investigations and manage employee relations cases with sensitivity, confidentiality, and impartiality

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact and build relationships with employees at all levels of the organisation

• Ability to provide practical, solution-oriented advice and guidance to employees and management on employee relations matters

• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations

To view a full job description please contact Suzanne.birdsey@cancer.org.uk

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human : Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our mission to beat cancer. In return, we create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk .

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There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen by emailing us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.