Employee Relations Advisor

UKRI
Salary: £37,841.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Fixed Term. (12 Months)
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid Working Available, Minimum 2 days a week in the office.

Closing Date: Sunday 15 March 2026.

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

About the Role The purpose of the role is to provide a comprehensive formal ER casework service to senior managers, line managers and staff across UKRI. This will include, but not limited to, matters of disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment, sickness absence and performance management, including supporting managers in the preparation of cases at all stages of the procedure as needed. The ER Casework Adviser will be promoting HR policies, practices, processes and initiatives and will actively work to build effective working relationships. They will be required to influence manager decisions on ER casework issues as well as challenge and persuade as appropriate. They will also lead on or support other HR projects as appropriate. The UKRI Redeployment Pool and associated processes are also managed by the Employee Relations team.

Your responsibilities:

• Manage or provide support as appropriate on a range of formal casework including sickness absence, performance management, disciplinary and grievance cases etc.
• Ensure that the casework tracker is completed and maintained accurately.
• Handle day-to-day queries, providing professional, timely, accurate and robust advice and guidance to managers and staff on a wide range of ER queries providing advice on associated policies.
• Work closely with colleagues in the HR Operations Team, Strategic HR Business Partners and the HR Centres of Expertise in helping to deliver a consistent and joined-up HR service across the organisation.
• Build effective working relationships with managers and staff and with other HR colleagues to support the maintenance and development of best practice policies and procedures.
• Participate as appropriate in the development and delivery of ER learning and personal development initiatives.
• Support on ER-related projects as appropriate.
• Review and analyse MI data and trends
• Adopt a continuous improvement approach to work, to ensure that records are kept up to date and letters, guidance and templates etc are accurate and appropriate.
• Line management of ER Assistant, if required.

Contacts and Communication The ER Casework Adviser will:

• Provide advice and guidance to senior managers, line managers and staff.
• Build positive relationships with colleagues across the HR function, in particular maintaining close and regular contact with the Strategic HR Business Partners.
• Liaise with colleagues in UK SBS, and other external organisations as appropriate.

There may be occasional travel to other sites required.

Personal Specification The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I). Essential

• A track record of effectively managing a range of casework. (S&I)
• Current, relevant experience working in an operational HR role, ideally in a diverse and demanding environment. (S)
• Appropriate CIPD Qualification (minimum level 3) or equivalent skills and knowledge gained from working in an HR role. (S)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present information, to persuade, influence, counsel, support or challenge people at all levels, often in sensitive circumstances, and to treat information confidentially. (S&I)
• Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own time effectively. (I)
• Ability to apply judgement and decision-making to find innovative solutions which meet customer needs, within policy or procedural requirements. (I)
• Ability to work with ambiguity and conflicting priorities. (I)
• A self-motivated, results-focused, and proactive, approach to work, with a strong record of delivery. (I)

Benefits We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning! A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance! For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.