Fitzgerald
Head of Employee Relations (South East)
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Head of Employee Relations (South East)
Location: Hybrid working, with occasional travel for client and team meetings (candidates must be based in the South East of England)
Job Type: Full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Salary: Starting from £67,000 FTE per annum (negotiable based on skills, experience and internal equity).
We offer a competitive salary package aligned with market rates for this role.
About Fitzgerald Employee Relations
We’re a full-service HR consultancy that partners with clients to help their people and businesses thrive. Sometimes, we act as an in-house HR team; other times, as an extension of their existing people team—always as a trusted partner that truly cares about human success.
Our core belief is that people are the foundation of every business’s success. Our mission is to help clients create workplaces where everyone can do their best work.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Head of Employee Relations (South East) to join our growing Employee Relations leadership team.
In this senior, hands-on leadership role, you will:
- Lead our Employee Relations service across the South East region, ensuring clients receive exceptional advice, support, and outcomes.
- Work alongside the Head of Employee Relations (South West).
- Lead and develop a talented team of ER specialists.
- Build trusted relationships with clients and provide personal support for the most complex, high-risk Employee Relations work.
- Play a key role in the continuous development of Fitzgerald’s broader Employee Relations service, reinforcing quality, capability and supporting growth.
Key Responsibilities
Leading a High-Performing ER Team
- Lead and develop a team of Senior ER Specialists and ER Specialists.
- Foster clarity, focus, and accountability within the team.
- Support colleagues in refining their technical expertise and growing their confidence.
- Manage workload, capacity, and delivery quality effectively.
- Cultivate a positive, high-performing culture where people feel supported, challenged, and valued.
Leading Complex Client Work
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders.
- Oversee high-level Employee Relations matters, including:
- Investigations
- Disciplinary and grievance processes
- Appeal hearings
- Restructuring
- Redundancy management
- TUPE projects
- Guide clients through high-risk and sensitive challenges.
- Review and quality assure advice and documentation.
- Draft and refine employment contracts, policies, and procedures.
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Driving Quality & Commercial Success
- Deliver planned billable income and performance targets.
- Ensure work is appropriately scoped, priced, and executed.
- Manage risk and uphold high professional standards.
- Support client retention, account growth, and new business opportunities.
- Collaborate with teams in People Partnering and Talent & People Solutions for integrated client support.
Requirements
To excel in this role, you should:
Essential Experience & Knowledge
- Significant experience leading and supporting complex Employee Relations work.
- Strong grasp of UK employment law.
- Prior experience with:
- Disciplinary proceedings
- Grievance investigations
- Restructures
- Redundancies
- TUPE processes
- Leadership experience both leading and coaching teams.
- Strong ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Sound commercial awareness and experience juggling priorities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Qualifications & Attributes
- CIPD Level 7 or equivalent employment law qualification, or equivalent experience is essential.
- Highly desirable to have expertise from a consultancy or professional services background.
Location & Compliance
- Must be based in the South East of England.
- Should possess a UK driving license and be willing to travel as needed.
What’s In It For You?
This is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to be part of a purpose-driven business, where our people succeed and thrive.
Benefits Includes:
- Starting salary of £67,000 FTE (subject to negotiation).
- 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after one year and 29 after two (including bank holidays).
- Support for ** career qualifications**, with robust growth opportunities.
- Monthly homeworking allowance, plus free equipment.
- Flexible working to support a healthy work-life balance.
- Pension scheme options, including salary sacrifice with minimum 4% employee contributions (we contribute 4%).
- Life assurance coverage at four times basic salary.
- Discount shopping platform, flu vaccinations, and cycle-to-work/travel schemes.
- Medicash Health Cash plan and wellbeing offerings, including an EAP (Employee Assistance Program).
- Enhanced family leave policies.
- Unlimited remote GP access available 24/7.
- Strong emphasis on workplace inclusion, collaboration, and development.
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Our Philosophy
At Fitzgerald, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We work to create a workplace where you can bring your authentic self—not just the job title. After all, job titles evolve.
We invest in improving our team, believing that when we all grow, so does our business. This starts with experiential learning and skill-development support, ensuring you have every opportunity to enhance your career.
And when life brings challenges (as it always does), we’ll make sure you have the flexibility, resources, and encouragement you need. Work-life balance isn’t just encouraged—it’s honored.
We value your input and commitment to shaping our future. If you thrive on collaboration, agility, and making an impact, we’d love to meet you.
Ready to Apply?
If this opportunity resonates with you, click Apply Now — our careers page awaits! And we’d be delighted to connect with you soon.
Application Process
Our process is designed to help us get to know you, just as much as it helps you understand us.
- Kick-off with a short intuitive call.
- A written assessment for further insight.
- Virtual interview (scheduled in mid-to-late July).
- Psychometric testing to gauge understanding and capabilities.
- Concluding in-person meeting (scheduled for July 23).
Don’t hesitate to apply—we actively promote diversity and inclusion and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to raise their hand!
"At Fitzgerald, we believe in work that works for you."
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