Employee Relations Consultant (Maternity Cover)

King's College London, United Kingdom

Updated: 6 days ago
Location: Harrow N W and S, ENGLAND
Deadline: 19 May 2024

Job id: 088248. Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 22 April 2024. Closing date: 19 May 2024.

Business unit: Human Resources. Department: Employee Relations.

Contact details:Lorna Adair. Lorna Adair [email protected]

Location: Guy's Campus. Category: Professional & Support Services.


About Us

The role of Employee Relations Consultant offers an exciting opportunity to work in the Human Resources (HR) department at King’s College London.  In HR we provide professional support and advice to more than 10,000 colleagues across the university on the full lifecycle of employment – from recruitment and retention to reward, recognition and career development.  We are proud to work with the university community to provide academic and professional excellence and an outstanding educational experience for our students.

Located at Lavington Street, part of the Guy’s campus, but with travel to other university sites required, we work in a hybrid model with a minimum of two days per week on site.


About the Role

As an Employee Relations (ER) Consultant you will play a pivotal role in providing expert advice and support to managers on a wide range of ER case issues. Working closely with an Employee Relations Coordinator you will lead on delivering effective solutions to complex employee relations matters, and ensuring a safe and compliant, but customer-focused, service to the Faculties or Departments you support.

You will work with managers on all employee relations casework activity, including matters related to conduct, performance, absence management and grievances. Additionally, you will act as the lead HR support for internal appeals processes and managing employment tribunal claims, working diligently to mitigate risks on behalf of the university.

You will also play a key role in collaborating closely with key stakeholders, including HR colleagues and senior management, to shape the university’s approach to employee relations including alternative conflict resolution. Integral to the role is using a coaching approach to supporting managers and training them to improve their competence and confidence with difficult people management issues to support the university’s values.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant difference to employee relations casework at King’s College London and to support managers in resolving people management issues at an early stage and to contribute to the university's Principles in Action.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 24th January 2025 to cover maternity leave.


About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

  • Up to date knowledge of employment law and employment practice and sound judgement in HR advice and employee relations. 
  • Excellent influencing, negotiation and interpersonal skills, coupled with experience of building good relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels.
  • The ability to act with a substantial degree of autonomy and discretion and being able to represent and promote the HR team.
  • Experience of the management of multiple types of employee relations case work and advising managers on complex issues through to successful resolution.
  • Demonstrable ability in coaching, briefing and training to large and small groups and one to one on employee relations and HR issues.
  • Ability to think on one’s feet and make informed decisions and to think creatively in identifying solutions to employee relations issues and be results orientated.
  • The ability to communicate concisely, effectively and persuasively in writing as well as verbally, with good attention to detail. 

    • Desirable criteria

  • Completed or working towards CIPD qualification or post-graduate professional qualification in a related discipline.
  • Degree level education or equivalent.
  • Experience working in employee relations in a large, complex, unionised organisation.

    • Downloading a copy of our Job Description

    Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.


    We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

    We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

    To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

    Interviews are due to be held on week commencing 27 May

    We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.


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