Employee Relations Advisor - 6-Month FTC
Manchester (Hybrid Working)
A leading UK retail organisation is seeking a People Policy Specialist to join its high‑performing People Team on a 6‑month fixed‑term contract. This is an exciting opportunity for an HR professional with a passion for employee relations, people policy, and delivering exceptional colleague experiences within a fast‑paced environment.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting managers and employee representatives by providing expert guidance on a wide range of people policies and employee relations matters. The role would suit someone highly organised, confident communicating over the telephone, and motivated to build a career within a progressive People function.
Key Responsibilities
* Providing people policy advice and coaching to line managers and employee representatives via telephone, supporting fair, balanced, and confident decision‑making
* Building strong working relationships with stakeholders to advise on options, risks, and best practice approaches
* Supporting the delivery of excellent customer service by achieving key service targets, including response times and customer satisfaction measures
* Producing and guiding managers on high‑quality written communications, including outcome letters and case documentation
* Developing knowledge across a broad range of people policies including absence management, disciplinary, performance management, flexible working, family leave, resourcing, and time off policies
* Managing Occupational Health referrals, ensuring referrals are appropriate, supporting managers with report outcomes, and advising on next steps
* Managing queries and cases through HR systems, ensuring accurate case management, clear documentation, and timely responses
* Reviewing case trends and themes to provide insight and support continuous improvement initiatives
* Collaborating closely with wider People teams to support positive business outcomes and a high‑performance culture
* Proactively seeking feedback to improve policy application and colleague experience
Key Skills & Experience
* Previous experience within HR, employee relations, people policy, or a strong desire to develop within a People function
* Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
* Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders over the phone
* Strong coaching and influencing capabilities
* High attention to detail and strong written communication skills
* Experience supporting or drafting formal letters and case documentation
* A passion for employee relations and delivering positive colleague outcomes
Working Pattern
* Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Manchester office
* Wednesday team anchor day
* First 6 weeks fully office‑based for training (5 days per week)
* Shift patterns typically between:
o 8am‑4pm
o 9am‑5pm
o 10am‑6pm
* Flexibility required for occasional late evenings (approximately 1 in every 6 weeks)
* Weekend working required on a rota basis depending on business needs
Benefits
* Competitive salary of £28,000 - £33,000
* Generous holiday allowance with option to purchase additional leave
* Pension and life assurance
* Wellbeing support including virtual GP and mental health services
* Opportunity to develop within a supportive and collaborative People team
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