[Hiring] Employee Relations Advisor @Reach plc

Role Description

If you are a confident ER specialist who loves autonomy, fast turnarounds, and navigating fast-paced business evolution, we want to hear from you. Joining us on an FTC basis, you will dive straight into the heart of our operations managing a varied ER portfolio with empathy and expertise, and keeping our policies sharp and compliant.

• Rapidly manage and resolve a high-volume portfolio of complex ER cases (including appeals and tribunal prep) with autonomy and speed.
• Act as a steady, expert guide for managers through fast-paced organisational changes, restructures, and consultation processes.
• Represent the company in virtual disciplinary, grievance, and collective consultation sessions to protect the business and champion fairness.
• Continuously refresh policies in line with evolving UK&I legislation and deliver practical coaching to boost management capability.
• Partner with the wider People team on forward-thinking projects to scale and sharpen our HR operations.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing a highly complex, sensitive ER caseload within a dedicated advisory or specialist environment.
• In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of UK&I employment legislation.
• Practical experience navigating change programs, organisational restructures, trade union consultations, and employment tribunal preparation.
• CIPD qualification.
• Pragmatic problem-solver with a commercial, solution-oriented mindset focused on balanced outcomes.
• Stakeholder management skills to quickly build trust and establish credible relationships.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with agility while helping others focus.
• Strong communication skills to convey complex legal advice with clarity.
• Collaborative judgment to work seamlessly across the wider People function.

Benefits

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), with an extra day after three, five, and ten years.
• Extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community.
• Big moment day - an extra day’s paid leave for significant personal events.
• Bonus scheme to add to your annual earnings.
• Pension contributions matched up to 6% with salary sacrifice options.
• Supportive and progressive people policies, including enhanced family leave and flexibility.
• Healthcare cash plan for medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Car lease scheme for electric or hybrid cars through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support, including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to financial wellbeing app, Stream, for managing finances and benefits.
• Discounts through Reach's online marketplace, Yimbly.
• Interest-free loans for season tickets and technology.

Company Description

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us Britain and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach around 70% of the UK's online population, 10% of the US online population, and over 100 million social followers around the world.

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.