At Serco, we deliver essential public services that make a real difference to people's lives. As an Employee Relations Partner, you'll play a key role in ensuring that Serco operates ethically, lawfully, and fairly across our UK business. You'll be the go-to expert for all matters relating to employment law, managing Employment Tribunal and ACAS Early Conciliation activity. You will be responsible for providing commercially focused advice to managers and People & Culture colleagues. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact by guiding fair outcomes, protecting Serco's reputation, and supporting our people.
Responsibilities
* Managing all ACAS Early Conciliation and Employment Tribunal (ET) activity efficiently and cost-effectively.
* Conducting advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings (preliminary and final) – where required.
* Prioritising and assessing incoming claims, providing timely risk evaluations and advising stakeholders on prospects and strategy.
* Drafting responses to ET claims, devising case management and defence strategies, and identifying key risk areas.
* Preparing documentation for hearings, including witness statements, tribunal bundles, counter schedules of loss, and skeleton arguments.
* Liaising professionally and effectively with external stakeholders such as ACAS, unions, solicitors, and barristers.
* Advising on settlement agreements, including drafting and negotiation, ensuring outcomes are expedient and cost-effective.
* Providing guidance on complex internal employee relations cases and contributing to proactive learning initiatives to reduce ER risk.
* Providing timely briefings on employment law updates and case law implications, supporting the design of relevant training materials. This role requires regular travel to attend meetings, hearings, and other events across the UK.
Qualifications
* Strong knowledge of UK employment law and data protection.
* While a degree in employment law or a related discipline is an advantage, we're equally interested in those who bring proven, practical experience in employment law and employee relations.
* CIPD qualified or working towards.
* Proven experience advising on all aspects of employment law, ideally within an in-house environment.
* Experience managing Employment Tribunal cases and working with ACAS conciliations.
* Strong negotiation and advocacy skills, with the confidence to represent the business externally.
* Proactive and solutions-focused, with a high level of attention to detail and commercial awareness.
About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone. By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks are led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Benefits & Opportunities
* Meaningful work – you'll help ensure that our people are treated fairly and that our operations uphold the highest ethical and legal standards.
* A supportive, collaborative culture where you can influence real change.
* Opportunities to develop your expertise in employment law, ER strategy, and case management.
* Flexible and varied work – including involvement in hearings, projects, and people initiatives.
What We Offer
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
* Annual leave purchase scheme.
* Up to 6% contributory pension scheme.
* Flexible working options.
* Serco discounts which include cinema, Merlin Entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
* A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
* A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
* A safe and supportive culture.
* A company passionate about diversity and inclusion.
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