Employee Relations Advisor

About this Role

The National Education Union is a powerful force for change in education, representing 500,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff, and leaders. As we undertake an extensive staffing review, this is an exciting time to join us on our journey to becoming a more agile, strategic, and powerfully coordinated trade union—ready to meet the challenges of the future and drive lasting change in education.

We are currently looking to appoint an Employee Relations Advisor to work in partnership with HR team members and managers across the NEU to provide specialist employee relations advice to ensure employee relations issues are managed to a high quality, ensuring adherence to legislation, policies and terms and conditions.

Prospective applicants must demonstrate substantial experience in employee relations within a complex organisational setting. This includes a proven ability to navigate sensitive workplace issues, foster constructive relationships with trade unions, and contribute to the development and implementation of fair and consistent employment practices.

You will have up to date knowledge of employment law and HR theory and practices that apply within the UK. The successful applicant will have the ability to produce clear, high quality written communications on detailed issues for a range of audiences. For example, policy and guidance documents, reports, decision letters.

In this role, you will be responsible for a large portfolio of ER casework, providing a high-quality service whilst coaching managers to provide safe and consistent advice, including sickness absence management, disciplinary, formal grievances, flexible working requests and capability processes. You will also contribute to the development of HR policies and, respond to identified organisational needs, changes in legislation and informed by HR management information.

Prospective applicants are also advised that your normal place of work will be the NEU office specified in this advert and that the NEU operates ‘Blended Working Arrangements’ for office-based staff, which means you will typically need to be based in the designated NEU office for 3 to 4 days a week (based on a full-time contract), with the remaining days based at home, and subject to business needs.

In addition to salary, we offer good conditions including 35 days’ annual leave plus Christmas closure days and a defined benefit pension scheme. Salary and benefits are pro-rata for part-time applicants.

Further information

Further details can be downloaded from our website at https://neu.org.uk/working-neu where applicants will be able to complete an online application on our recruitment portal. Closing date is mid-day Monday 3 November 2025.

THE UNION IS FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNIES IN ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICE