Opencast | B Corp™
Employee Relations Specialist
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Ready for a new challenge?
Are you looking for work that makes a difference? Do you want to work with people who learn and grow together?
If so, Opencast could be the place for you. We’re a growing tech consultancy that creates user-centred solutions with purpose for our clients in government and business.
The role
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employee Relations professional to play a key role within our People Operations Function, providing expert advice and guidance across a broad range of complex and sensitive employee relations matters.
The Employee Relations Specialist will take ownership of a varied ER caseload from initial caseload through to resolution, helping managers navigate challenging people issues whilst ensuring a fair, consistent and legally compliant approach.
Reporting to the People Operations Manager and working closely managers and leaders across the organisation, the role will manage cases independently, conduct workplace investigations and provide confident guidance through both formal and informal processes.
The role will play an important part in strengthening manager confidence and capability, providing constructive challenge and encouraging early intervention wherever possible. Using insight from casework, employment law and organisational practice the Employee Relations Specialist will contribute to the development and continuous improvement of our people policies, guidance and manager resources and overall approach to employee relations.
The role requires strong ER experience, sound judgement and the confidence to balance employee experience, organisational needs, legal obligations and effective management of risk.
Responsibilities
- Manage a varied caseload of employee relations matters across the workforce, including complex and sensitive cases, ensuring they progress appropriately and accurate records are maintained.
- Take ownership of ER cases from initial consultation and assessment through to resolution, identifying appropriate case strategy and next steps.
- Provide clear, practical and legally informed advice to managers, supporting fair, consistent and proportionate decision-making.
- Guide and support managers through formal and informal processes, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, absence, wellbeing and other employee relations matters.
- Conduct fair, impartial and thorough workplace investigations, producing clear, evidence-based findings and recommendations.
- Coach managers to address performance, conduct, attendance and other people concerns confidently and at the earliest appropriate stage.
- Provide constructive challenge where proposed decisions or approaches may be inconsistent, disproportionate or create unnecessary employee relations or legal risk.
- Use professional judgement to identify complex, sensitive or higher-risk matters and work with the People Operations Manager to assess the risk and agree the appropriate case strategy and escalation where required.
- Keep up to date with developments in UK employment law and emerging employee relations practice, translating changes into clear guidance and practical actions for managers and the wider People team.
- Identify recurring themes and underlying organisational issues from casework, sharing insight with the People Operations Manager and wider People team to inform improvements to policies, processes and leadership practice.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of case management standards, documentation, governance and reporting.
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Key Deliverables & KPIs
- Effective and timely management of employee relations casework.
- Quality, consistency and accuracy of employee relations advice.
- Case resolution times and outcomes.
- Quality and completeness of case documentation and records.
- Feedback from People Success Managers, Practice Leads and stakeholders.
- Effective identification and escalation of employee relations risk.
- Manager confidence and capability in handling people matters.
- Insight and learning generated from employee relations activity.
Essential Skills
- Problem solving – I assess people situations carefully, considering different perspectives and identifying practical and proportionate solutions.
- Communication – I communicate clearly and sensitively, adapting my approach when supporting people through difficult or challenging situations.
- Mindset – I take ownership of my work, remain calm when dealing with sensitive matters and look for opportunities to resolve issues effectively.
- Collaboration – I build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues to achieve consistent and positive outcomes.
Technical Skills
- Employee relations experience–Experience working in an ER or people advisory role, with demonstrable experience of handling complex and sensitive employee relations matters.
- UK employment law Strong working knowledge of UK employment legislation and ACAS guidance, with the ability to apply this confidently and pragmatically to employee relations matters.
- Complex case management – Proven experience independently managing employee relations cases from initial consultation through to resolution, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, capability and absence matters.
- Investigations – Able to conduct fair, thorough and well-documented workplace investigations.
- People advisory – Confident providing practical advice and guidance to managers and People colleagues.
- Organisation & prioritisation – Able to manage a varied caseload, prioritise effectively and maintain accurate documentation.
- Stakeholder management – Able to build trusted relationships while providing appropriate advice, challenge and support.
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Desirable Skills
- CIPD Level 5 qualification or above, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
Salary
£40,000 - £50,000 per annum
What we offer
A competitive package including a 7% employer pension contribution, share options, and a discretionary bonus. You’ll also benefit from 25 days’ holiday and access to 3 annual “life happens” days to support unexpected situations. We provide wellbeing support, ongoing professional development, volunteering opportunities, and the chance to be part of a genuinely supportive team.
Where you’ll work
This role requires regular on-site attendance at our HQ, hub offices, and client sites, as well as the ability to work from home. Applicants must be able to travel to offices and client sites across the UK as part of their normal working arrangements, as travel is essential for fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.
We include you
We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.
Interview
Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We’re happy to make adjustments to support your needs.
Want to know more?
Visit our website or email careers@opencastsoftware.com
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