Lead Employee Relations Adviser

Job description

Lead Employee Relations Adviser
Contract Type
Permanent

Working Pattern
Full time

Working Hours
35 hours per week

Salary
£40,886.91 - £48,102.24 per annum

Location Options
Birmingham with part of the week working from home

Function Type
Corporate Functions (HR, Finance, Project Management, IT, Risk and Audit)

The SRA are recruiting for an experienced Lead Employee Relations Adviser to join the HR Services team on a permanent basis. Working closely with the wider HR team and stakeholders across the organisation, you will act as a senior Employee Relations subject matter expert, providing specialist advice and support on complex employee relations matters whilst helping to shape and continuously improve our people practices.

The Role

As our Lead Employee Relations Adviser, you will be the organisation's subject matter expert on complex employee relations matters, partnering with managers and stakeholders across the business to deliver practical, commercially focused advice. You'll lead on a broad range of casework, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence and organisational change matters, ensuring risks are managed appropriately and outcomes are fair and consistent.

Alongside providing expert guidance, you'll support and develop managers and HR colleagues, identify trends through data and insight, and contribute to the development of policies, processes and people initiatives. This is a varied role that combines hands-on case management with the opportunity to influence wider people practices and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.

What is in it for you?

• Showcase your Employee Relations expertise by leading on a wide range of complex and challenging cases.
• Play a key role in influencing people decisions and helping shape a positive workplace culture.
• Coach and develop managers and HR colleagues to enhance organisational capability.
• Contribute to strategic people projects, policy development and organisational change initiatives.
• This is a hybrid role and will be based in our Birmingham office up to two days a week, and from home the rest of the week.
• Additional 3% of annual basic salary for you to choose the benefits that best suit your lifestyle and personal situation.
• Pension - We will contribute 1½ - 2 times your contribution, up to 12.25%. So, if you contribute 7%, you will enjoy the maximum combined contribution of 19.25%.
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme.
• Access to employee discount vouchers for savings on High Street brands, travel and supermarkets.
• Life Assurance cover of 4 times basic salary.
• Income Protection.
• Private Medical Insurance for you and your family after completion of 2 years' service.
• An extensive range of Heka Health and Wellbeing experiences to choose from with monthly company funding allowance.
• A comprehensive range of flexible benefits to choose from each year.

What we are looking for

• Significant experience managing multiple complex employee relations cases.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and employee relations best practice.
• Previous experience in leading on the management of ET1 claims and liaising with third parties and legal representatives.
• Ability to formulate ER MI dashboards and interpret and articulate the data story to stakeholders, recommending appropriate actions and solutions.
• Previous experience in developing a robust framework for reasonable adjustments.
• Demonstrable experience in an effective coaching style approach achieving value added results.
• Ability to adapt a style to suit the circumstances.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting change programmes and HR projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with an exceptional attention to detail.
• A proactive, organised and customer-focused approach.
• CIPD qualification (or equivalent) is desirable.

Useful information

• Comparable job titles for this role used by other organisations might be Senior Employee Relations Adviser, Employee Relations Manager, Employee Relations Business Partner, Senior HR Adviser or Senior People Partner.
• There is a role profile attached at the bottom of this advert which details the full skills and experience required.
• If you have any questions that aren't in this advert or on our website, please contact us via: [email protected]

To apply

Please click 'apply' to complete the online application form and upload a CV and cover letter, addressing how you meet the requirements of the role.

To find out more about the recruitment and selection process and how to make the most of your application, please visit our jobs pages.

Closing date for applications is 31 August 2026.

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. We do this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards.

We offer an inclusive, supportive and friendly working environment and the chance to develop your career within a professional organisation. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff, helping everyone to strike a good balance between personal and professional life.

Additionally, we provide a generous flexible benefits package, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation.

Attached Role Profile
Lead Employee Relations (ER) Adviser role profile June 2026 (1).docx - 553KB Opens in a new window Converted File Lead Employee Relations (ER) Adviser role profile June 2026 (1).docx.pdf - 93KB Opens in a new window

Vacancy closing date: 31/08/2026, 23:55

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We are actively committed to promoting and participating in good practice in the way that we attract, recruit and retain staff.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work because we appreciate the value that a truly diverse workforce brings to an organisation. We celebrate difference, recognising the benefits this brings to our inclusive culture, including age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio economic background.