Employee Relations Specialist

Hours:
35 hours per week, 12 month fixed term contract, flexible and hybrid working can be considered with expectations to work in Head Office a couple of times a week.

Salary:
£50,000 Per Annum

Closing Date:
Thu, 28 Aug 2025

The salary for this role is up to £50,000 per annum, dependent on skills and experience.

We’re looking for an experienced HR professional with extensive employee relations experience, excellent employment law knowledge and the confidence to provide advice and coaching to leaders on a range of complex employee relations issues.

This role is pivotal in delivering a high-quality, expert service that empowers a leader-led people culture, ensuring fairness, consistency, and legally sound outcomes across the organisation. You’ll work closely with People Partners and leaders to resolve issues effectively, mitigate risk and support a positive colleague experience.

If you’ve experience in managing high-volume complex cases and supporting the implementation of an ER strategy, then we’d love to hear from you

Who Are We?

Not just another building society. Not just another job.

We're the fourth biggest building society in the UK and what makes us a bit different is that we're a mutual organisation. We don't have shareholders; we're owned by our members.

Our colleagues say Skipton's a great place to work, and you could be one of them, bringing with you new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart of what we do.

Whatever your background, and whatever your goals, we'll help you take the next step towards a better future.

You’ll be joining the People Operations Team, working closely with 3 Senior Specialists, 3 Advisors and Administrators. You’ll also work closely with leaders across the business as well as various teams across the People Function, such as People Partners, Talent Acquisition and Salaries.

What’s In It For You?

Skipton values work/life balance and we are proud to support hybrid and flexible working, where possible. We have a newly refurbished head office which offers a vibrant and collaborative working space.

We have a range of other benefits available to you including;- Annual discretionary bonus scheme- 25 days standard annual leave + bank holidays + rising 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days- Holiday trading scheme allowing the ability to buy and sell additional annual leave days- Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum)- Colleague mortgage (conditions apply)- Salary sacrifice scheme for hybrid & electric car- A commitment to training and development- Private medical insurance for all our colleagues- 3 paid volunteering days per annum- Diverse and inclusive colleague networks available for you to join including our Carers and Pride Alliance groups- We care about your health and wellbeing - we provide a range of benefits that support this including cycle to work initiative and discounted gym membership

What Will You Be Doing?- Manage Complex Employee Relations Cases: Lead the resolution of high-risk and sensitive ER matters, facilitating constructive conversations between leaders and colleagues in line with company policies and employment legislation.- Coach and Empower Leaders: Provide expert guidance to leaders, enabling confident and informed decision-making that balances business needs with legal compliance and fairness.- Support Health and Wellbeing: Collaborate with Occupational Health and other external health and wellbeing partners to manage long-term absence cases, ensuring appropriate support and reasonable adjustments are in place, while promoting diversity and inclusion across the organisation.- Policy Development and Governance: Design, review, and update people policies and procedures to reflect current legislation, best practice, and evolving organisational needs.- Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including People Partners, Trade Union representatives, and senior leaders to ensure alignment and effective collaboration.- Project and Workshop Leadership: Lead and contribute to strategic HR projects and deliver workshops that enhance leadership capability and support cultural change.- Data-Driven Insights: Analyse employee relations data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, providing actionable insights to improve colleague experience and mitigate organisational risk.

What Do We Need From You?- Proven experience managing complex and high-volume employee relations cases.-
- Experience coaching and advising leaders on ER matters and decision-making.- Familiarity with Occupational Health processes and supporting long-term absence cases.- Demonstrated ability to develop, review, and implement HR policies and procedures.- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build trust at all levels.- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.