Employee Relations Specialist

FTC until March 2027 | Merseyside | circa 50,000 + Benefits Predominantly Site-Based

Are you an experienced Employee Relations Specialist who enjoys working in a fast-paced operational environment where you can make a genuine impact?

Client Details

We''re partnering with a major manufacturing organisation to recruit an Employee Relations Specialist to support a large, complex operational site employing over 600 colleagues. This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a highly visible role at a time of significant organisational change, leadership development and business transformation.

This isn''t a role focused solely on managing casework. You''ll be a trusted advisor to operational leaders, helping them build confidence, capability and consistency in how they manage their people while ensuring best practice ER standards are maintained across the site.

Description

Working closely with the Senior People Business Partner, you''ll take ownership of the site''s employee relations agenda, supporting a diverse frontline workforce within a 24/7 manufacturing operation. You''ll partner with leaders to tackle complex people challenges, drive compliance and help embed a culture of accountability and high performance.

The business is investing heavily in its future workforce, introducing new leadership structures and driving significant capability improvement across management teams. As a result, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence change, coach leaders and shape the employee experience at scale.

• Manage a broad range of ER matters including absence, disciplinary, grievance, conduct and capability cases.
• Coach and support line managers through employee relations processes, building capability rather than creating dependency.
• Drive consistency and compliance across policies, procedures and people practices.
• Analyse ER trends and data to identify risks and recommend solutions.
• Support improvements in absence management and employee engagement.
• Facilitate regular ER reviews with operational leaders, using data and insights to drive performance.
• Partner with site leadership teams to navigate organisational change and workforce transformation activities.
• Contribute to wider ER and policy initiatives across the organisation where appropriate.

Profile

We''re looking for someone who combines strong technical ER expertise with the confidence to challenge and influence at all levels.

As an Employee Relations Specialist you''ll likely have:

• Significant employee relations experience within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting operational, manufacturing, logistics, distribution or similarly complex workforces.
• Strong coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Confidence handling complex and high-volume ER activity.
• A data-driven approach with the ability to identify trends and drive action.
• The resilience and credibility to support leaders through periods of change.
• Previous experience in a unionised or industrial environment would be beneficial but is not essential.
• Experience provideing ER support and guidance in an FMCG or similar environment is desireable.
• Ability to be on site 4 days a week in Liverpool.

Job Offer

• Opportunity to join a recognised market-leading organisation.
• High-profile role with genuine visibility and influence.
• Exposure to large-scale change and transformation projects.
• Collaborative and supportive People team.
• The chance to leave a lasting impact by improving manager capability and people practices across the site.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

This role would particularly suit an ER Specialist, Employee Relations Advisor, ER Manager or HR professional with strong employee relations expertise looking for a role where they can influence, challenge and add real value rather than simply process cases.