Employee Relations Partner

Employee Relations (ER) Partner

At Serco, we deliver essential public services that make a real difference to people's lives. As an Employee Relations Partner, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring Serco operates ethically, lawfully and fairly across our UK business.

You'll be the go-to expert for all employment law matters, with hands-on responsibility for managing and representing the organisation in Employment Tribunal proceedings and ACAS Early Conciliation activity. This is a highly visible role where your expertise will directly influence outcomes, protect Serco's reputation, and support managers and colleagues to do the right thing.

What you'll be doing:

• Managing all ACAS Early Conciliation and Employment Tribunal (ET) activity efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Conducting advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings (preliminary and final) - where required.
• Prioritising and assessing incoming claims, providing timely risk evaluations and advising stakeholders on prospects and strategy.
• Drafting responses to ET claims, devising case management and defence strategies, and identifying key risk areas.
• Preparing documentation for hearings, including witness statements, tribunal bundles, counter schedules of loss, and skeleton arguments.
• Liaising professionally and effectively with external stakeholders such as ACAS, unions, solicitors, and barristers.
• Advising on settlement agreements, including drafting and negotiation, ensuring outcomes are expedient and cost-effective.
• Providing guidance on complex internal employee relations cases and contributing to proactive learning initiatives to reduce ER risk.
• Providing timely briefings on employment law updates and case law implications, supporting the design of relevant training materials.

What you will bring:

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and data protection.
• Demonstrable, hands-on experience representing an organisation at Employment Tribunal hearings (preliminary and/or final), including conducting advocacy.
• While a degree in employment law or a related discipline is an advantage, we're equally interested in those who bring proven, practical experience in employment law and employee relations.
• CIPD qualified or working towards
• Proven experience advising on all aspects of employment law, ideally within an in-house environment.
• Experience managing Employment Tribunal cases and working with ACAS conciliations.
• Strong negotiation and advocacy skills, with the confidence to represent the business externally.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with a high level of attention to detail and commercial awareness.

Additional information

• This role requires regular travel to attend meetings, hearings, and other events across the UK.
• This position is well suited to an ER professional who enjoys being close to casework and confidently representing an organisation at hearings.

Why Serco

• Meaningful work – you'll help ensure that our people are treated fairly and that our operations uphold the highest ethical and legal standards.
• A supportive, collaborative culture where you can influence real change.
• Opportunities to develop your expertise in employment law, ER strategy, and case management.
• Flexible and varied work – including involvement in hearings, projects, and people initiatives.

What we offer:

• Company car
• Private healthcare
• Bonus scheme: 5% on target
• Flexible working
• 6% employer pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Clear and supported routes for career progression
• The chance to contribute to innovation and improvement across public services

A little bit about us:

At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we're united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment: We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our 'Ban the Box' pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

Let's impact a better future, together. Apply today.