Job Title: Colleague Relations (CR) Advisor
Location: Wherstead Park, Ipswich, Suffolk (with hybrid working and occasional travel)
Salary: £39,000 per annum (Dependent on experience)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (minimum 3 days per week in office)
Reporting to: Colleague Relations (CR) Lead
Team: People Business Partnering
Job Share Option: Not available
About the Role
Are you an experienced ER professional who thrives on making a real difference to colleagues and managers alike?
We’re looking for an experienced Colleague Relations (CR) Advisor to play a vital role in supporting fair, consistent and legally compliant people practices across our co‑op. This role sits at the heart of the People function, providing trusted advice to managers, handling complex and sensitive ER cases, and helping build long‑term manager capability.
Based at Wherstead Park with hybrid working, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your ER expertise, influence positive outcomes, and contribute to a values‑led, people‑first organisation.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Manage a varied caseload of ER matters including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability, probation and appeals
* Provide pragmatic, commercially balanced advice to managers in line with employment law and policy
* Draft high‑quality case correspondence, outcomes and summaries
* Support and lead investigations, including witness interviews and evidence collation
* Coach and guide managers to resolve issues early and confidently
* Ensure consistent application of policies, procedures and the ACAS Code of Practice
* Maintain accurate, confidential and audit‑ready case records
* Work closely with the CR Lead, People Business Partners and wider stakeholders
* Contribute to ER insights, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives
What You’ll Need
* Proven experience managing ER cases within an HR or People function
* Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and best practice
* Confidence influencing and coaching managers at different levels
* Excellent written communication and attention to detail
* Calm, professional judgement when handling sensitive matters
* Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities effectively
* Preferably CIPD Level 3 (working towards Level 5) or equivalent experience
Why Join Us?
At East of England Co‑op, our values guide how we support our colleagues and communities. As a CR Advisor, you’ll have genuine influence; shaping outcomes, improving manager capability, and helping create a fair and respectful workplace. We offer flexible working, professional development opportunities, and the chance to be part of a collaborative, supportive People team.
How to Apply
Hit the Apply button now for a quick and easy application process.
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