Job Title: Senior Employee Relations Advisor

Location: Durrington, Worthing

Contract Type: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Hours: 37

Salary: From £36,000 based on skills and experience

About the role:

The Senior ER Advisor will provide expert Employee Relations advice and support across the organisation, managing complex ER cases from inception to conclusion. The role will ensure that employee issues are resolved fairly, consistently and in line with company policy, employment legislation, and organisational values.

The Senior ER Advisor will also coach managers, support organisational change activity and contribute to the continuous improvement of ER practices and processes.

What you will be responsible for:

Employee Relations Case Management:

Lead and manage complex ER cases including:
Disciplinary
Grievance
Capability and performance management
Absence management
Bullying and harassment
Whistleblowing concerns
Flexible working requests
Appeals
Conduct investigations and prepare comprehensive investigation reports.
Assess employee relations risks and provide pragmatic recommendations.
Ensure cases are managed within agreed timelines and service standards.
Support managers through formal hearings and meetings.

Expert Advice and Coaching:

Act as a trusted advisor to leaders and managers.
Provide guidance on employment law, policies and best practice.
Coach managers to build confidence and capability in handling people issues.
Challenge decisions where appropriate to ensure fairness and consistency.

Organisational Change:

Support restructuring, TUPE, redundancy and consultation processes.
Ensure legal compliance and minimise organisational risk.
Prepare communications and consultation materials.

Risk Management and Governance:

Identify and mitigate employment risks.
Escalate significant ER issues appropriately.
Ensure accurate and compliant case documentation.
Support employment tribunal preparation where required.

Continuous Improvement:

Analyse ER trends and provide insight to HR and business leaders.
Recommend improvements to policies, procedures and manager capability.
Deliver training and workshops on ER topics.

Key Relationships:

Internal

HR Business Partners
Executive Team
Line Managers
Trade Union Representatives
Employees
Group Audit

External

Employment solicitors
ACAS

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

Significant Employee Relations experience.
Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
Experience managing complex and high-risk ER cases.
Excellent investigation and report-writing skills.
Experience influencing and coaching senior managers.
Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
Strong stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualification.
Experience in unionised environments.
Experience supporting organisational change and restructuring programmes.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.

Southern Water

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Senior Employee Relations Advisor