Employee Relations Consultant (Policy Specialist)
The People Team are looking for an Employee Relations Consultant (Policy Specialist) who will provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters while leading the development, review, and implementation of HR policies.
The role ensures that policies are legally compliant, clearly written, aligned to organisational culture, and support a fair, consistent employee experience. The Advisor will partner with managers, People Team colleagues, and legal advisors to resolve ER issues and strengthen organisational effectiveness.
Who we are
Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds.
Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into.
To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our LinkedIn Life page here.
The role
In this role, you will be responsible for providing expert guidance on a wide range of employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, performance concerns, absence management, and conduct issues. You will coach managers to help them address these challenges confidently and in line with both company policy and best practice. For more complex or high‑risk cases, you will take the lead to ensure that documentation is thorough, risks are assessed appropriately, and all processes remain compliant. You will also be expected to identify emerging employee relations trends and propose proactive solutions to address them.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
The person
This person will lead the entire HR policy lifecycle—drafting, reviewing, consulting, updating, and communicating policies across the organisation. You will ensure all policies meet legal requirements, reflect evolving legislation, and align with industry best practice. Working closely with legal counsel, you will review high‑risk or sensitive areas and produce user‑friendly policy documents, guidance notes, templates, and toolkits for managers. To support successful adoption, you will also create and deliver communications and training that embed these policies effectively.
You will build strong working relationships with managers and People Team Colleagues to promote consistent application of policies and support wider HR projects such as culture initiatives, capability building, and improvements in people governance. You will contribute to the continuous improvement of employee relations processes, templates, and workflows.
To be successful, you will need strong technical expertise in UK employment law and an ability to apply legislation to practical workplace scenarios. You should be highly skilled in case management, investigations, and producing clear, accessible HR policies. The role also requires an analytical mindset with the ability to interpret legislation, spot trends, and recommend improvements.
You will be an excellent communicator, able to translate complex information into plain English, and demonstrate confident decision‑making grounded in sound judgment and risk awareness. Strong stakeholder management skills are essential, as is the ability to influence at all levels with professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
Applicants should have a solid background in HR advisory or ER specialist roles. You should have demonstrable experience leading HR policy development and managing complex cases from start to finish, ideally within fast‑paced and multi‑stakeholder environments. A CIPD Level 5 qualification is required, with Level 7 preferred or equivalent experience.
Performance in the role will be measured through indicators such as the timeliness and quality of ER case resolution, reductions in repeated issues, and compliance with policy and process audits. For policy work, you will be assessed on timely policy updates, legal compliance, clarity and accessibility of documents, stakeholder satisfaction, and adoption levels through training and engagement. Your overall business impact will be reflected in reduced risk exposure, improvements in policy consistency, and the successful delivery of projects to the expected standards and timelines.
What we can offer you
Rewarding you
* A competitive salary
* 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro rata)
* Defined Contribution pension
Heath & Wellbeing
* Employee assistance programme
* Health cash plan
* Eye care vouchers
* Flu vaccination
Lifestyle
* Give as you earn scheme
* Paid volunteering days
Next Steps
Please apply for the apply button or visit Careers at Railpen by Monday 2nd March 2026.
Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life