Employee Relations Lead

Business Area: HR

Place of Work: Liverpool

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Employee Relations Lead, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to be responsible for leading the effective management of all employee relations matters across the organisation. The role partners closely with managers to build capability in handling informal and formal ER issues, balancing organisational risk with pragmatic, people-focused solutions.

The role also acts as a subject matter expert (SME) in ER processes, policies, and systems, including contributing to HRIS implementation and continuous improvement of ER frameworks, reporting, and governance.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the HR team you will be responsible for:

Employee Relations Case Management

• Lead the end-to-end management of all formal ER cases, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance
• Support the HRBPs with organisational change activity
• Support and coach managers to resolve issues at an early stage through informal approaches wherever appropriate

Manager Coaching and Capability Building

• Coach and guide managers on handling employee issues confidently and effectively, with an emphasis on early, informal resolution
• Build manager capability in applying policies, conducting investigations, and managing difficult conversations
• Provide practical, risk-balanced advice that aligns business needs with colleague wellbeing and engagement
• Support leadership and management development initiatives relating to ER and people management.

Horizon Scanning, Risk Management and Compliance

• Balance commercial, reputational and legal risk in all ER advice and decision making, escalating to the Head of HR Business Partnering, legal counsel and/or Compliance where required
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, ACAS guidance, and regulatory frameworks

Policies, Processes & Governance

• Develop, review, and maintain ER related policies, procedures, templates and guidance materials
• Provide clear and accessible guidance for HR and managers.

Data, Reporting and Systems

• Establish and maintain robust ER case tracking and reporting mechanisms
• Analyse ER data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Produce regular reporting and insights for HR leadership and the business
• Use data-driven insights to inform proactive interventions and organisational strategies
• Act as ER SME in the design and implementation of the HRIS, particularly ER case management modules
• Define system requirements, workflows, and reporting needs to support effective ER management.

HR Team Development and Knowledge Sharing

• Ensure HRBPs are kept up to date with employee relations matters within their business areas
• Mentor and upskill HR Operations and wider HR teams in ER knowledge and best practice
• Provide training and guidance on ER processes, policies, and case handling

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practice
• Proven experience managing complex ER casework end-to-end
• Experience advising within regulated environments (e.g., FCA)
• Excellent coaching and influencing skills
• Strong judgement and ability to balance risk with pragmatic solutions
• Analytical mindset with experience in reporting
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders effectively
• Clear, confident communication skills (written and verbal).

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

- Great starting salary
- Generous annual leave package
- Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
- Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
- Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
- Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
- Cycle to Work Scheme

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Excellence

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.