Employee Relations Advisor Grade 10

Employee Relations Advisor (Grade 10)

Temporary Contract – 52 Weeks

Job Details

Client: Somerset Council
Reference: OR120297
Directorate: Resources Strategy & Transformation / HR & OD
Grade: 10
Contract: Temporary, 52 weeks
Dates: 16 November 2026 to 14 November 2027
Hours: 37 per week
Vacancies: 1
PAYE rate: £19.96 per hour

Working Pattern and Location

Hybrid working, with a minimum of two days a week in the office on Wednesday and Thursday, plus other days if required by business needs.
Office: County Hall, The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY.

Job Overview

Somerset Council seeks an experienced Employee Relations Advisor to provide professional and legally compliant HR guidance to managers, headteachers and governors. Manage complex employment matters involving disciplinary, grievance, performance, sickness absence, investigations and restructures. Provide practical options, recommendations and risk-aware advice consistent with Council policies and UK employment law.

Important – Please Read Carefully

Significant complex employee relations advisory experience is essential. You must have handled disciplinary, grievance, performance management, sickness and organisational change cases, preferably with TUPE experience. A driving licence and commercial/business-use driving insurance are mandatory submission documents.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise managers, headteachers and governors on complex employee relations cases.
• Guide formal investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes, ensuring fairness and due process.
• Provide advice about sickness absence, performance, recruitment and terms and conditions.
• Present practical employment options with clearly identified risks.
• Support consultations and engagement with trade unions and professional bodies.
• Help manage restructures and service change from an HR perspective.
• Support HR policies and organisational development projects, including legislative updates.
• Analyse HR data and produce reports and management information.
• Coach managers in effective people management practice.
• Promote equality, inclusion and adherence to employment law.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Substantial HR experience with complex employee relations casework.
• In-depth knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience managing disciplinary, grievance, sickness and performance cases.
• Ability to provide professional risk-based recommendations to management.
• HR data analysis and reporting.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and IT skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint.
• Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience.
• Fluent spoken English as required for the role.

Desirable Experience

• TUPE, collective consultations and trade union negotiation.
• Experience in local government or school HR.
• Restructuring and employment dispute resolution.
• Development of HR policies and training presentations.
• CIPD membership and continuous professional development.
• Electronic filing systems and Copilot.

Additional Information

Supplier submission deadline: 15 November 2026.
Target interview date: 2 November 2026, online; timing to be confirmed with Council.
Maximum CV submissions: 3 per agency.
Required at submission: Right to work in UK, CV, Confidentiality Agreement, two years of references/work history, driving licence and commercial/business-use driving insurance.
On offer acceptance: Contract / Key Information Document and Criminal Convictions Declaration.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference: OR120297

Strict Screening Questions

1. Do you have significant experience independently advising managers on complex employee relations cases?
2. Have you managed disciplinary and grievance investigations and formal proceedings?
3. Have you advised on complex sickness absence and performance cases?
4. Do you have strong working knowledge of UK employment law?
5. Have you supported restructures, trade union consultations or TUPE?
6. Can you attend County Hall, Taunton, every Wednesday and Thursday?
7. Do you hold a driving licence and business-use driving insurance?
8. Can you start from 16 November 2026 and provide proof of UK right to work?

Skills

Employee Relations, HR Advisor, Disciplinary, Grievance, Investigations, Sickness Absence, Performance Management, Employment Law, TUPE, Restructures, Trade Union Consultation