Employee relations advisor

Location: Exeter (1 day per week on-site)

Rate: Up to £300 per day

Contract Length: 6 Months

Client: Public Sector Organisation

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 1 day per week on-site in Exeter

A Public Sector Organisation is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Advisor to join its People Team on a 6-month contract. Working closely with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership and external partners, you will lead the Employee Relations function, manage complex casework, and help deliver a proactive, high-quality people service.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Employee Relations subject matter expert, leading the ER function and promoting best practice across the organisation.
• Manage and oversee complex employee relations casework, including escalations up to Employment Tribunal level.
• Provide guidance and coaching to managers on a broad range of ER matters.
• Stay up to date with employment legislation, policy developments, and industry best practice to drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Trade Union representatives, Occupational Health, and Employee Assistance Programme providers.
• Support the development of people management capability across the organisation.
• Lead and contribute to people-focused projects and service improvement initiatives.
• Utilise people metrics and reporting to identify trends, inform decision-making, and enhance service delivery.
• Champion innovative ways of working and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the People function.

Essential Experience

• Significant Employee Relations experience within a complex organisational environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practice.
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations cases from start to finish.
• Experience working collaboratively with Trade Unions and senior stakeholders.
• Strong coaching, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Experience using data and people metrics to support decision-making and service improvement.