AVP, Employee Relations

Overview

Exciting newly created role for an Employee Relations specialist at AVP level in our London team. Provide expert Employee Relations support across the International region, partnering closely with People Experience (PX), Legal, and business leaders to manage complex and sensitive employee matters. Design and embed a new service delivery framework and strengthen ER practices and risk management across the International region.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Enterprise Employee Relations (ER) framework, supporting governance standards and ensuring alignment with regional employment regulations.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve ER standards, processes, and tools for Pacific Life Re, including templates and guidance for disciplinary actions, performance management, and involuntary separations.
• Independently lead complex workplace investigations and support higher risk matters (harassment, discrimination, GDPR, regulatory), conducting interviews, gathering evidence, preparing reports, and recommending outcomes or development actions.
• Provide expert ER advice and guidance to Employee Relations Specialists, HRBPs, Legal, and business leaders to resolve issues, mitigate risk, and ensure fair, consistent handling of matters across regions.
• Provide oversight and guidance to the PX Operations Team, enabling high quality support for employee relations requests through the tiered support model and acting as a point of escalation as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of ER programs and processes across the International region, contributing to reporting and insights aligned to Global ER success measures (case trends, risk indicators, external counsel usage).
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert in relevant business and PX discussions, offering insight on workplace trends, emerging risks, and complex employee matters to support informed decision making.
• Support the design and delivery of ER related training for managers and employees across the International region, ensuring alignment with global standards and curriculum.
• Monitor and respond to regional legal and regulatory developments with Country PX Leads to ensure policies, guidelines, and employment practices remain compliant with local requirements.
• Liaise with the Global ER team to ensure alignment in approach where appropriate and collaborate on continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, Employment Law, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in Employee Relations roles, with exposure to complex ER matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven experience independently leading investigations and advising senior leaders on sensitive and high risk issues, facilitating difficult conversations and resolving disputes effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem solving capability, able to assess complex ER situations and recommend pragmatic, risk aware solutions.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, able to manage multiple ER cases and workstreams simultaneously.
• Experience contributing to the design, implementation, or evolution of ER governance frameworks.
• Deep knowledge of labour laws, regulatory requirements, and ER best practices across regions such as EMEA, APAC, and Canada (e.g., GDPR, whistleblower protections). Familiarity with US frameworks such as FMLA/ADA is beneficial but not essential.
• Demonstrated ability to stay current on employment law developments and emerging ER trends.
• Experience working with HRIS platforms and ER or case management systems (e.g., Workday).

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or formal qualification in HR or employment law.
• Experience operating in a highly matrixed, global HR function.
• Experience enabling high quality ER support within an HR Shared Services model.
• Certification (e.g., CIPD, SHRM, IHRP) with specialization in employee relations or workplace investigations.

Benefits

• Leave: 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
• Adoption and fertility leave
• Generous enhanced parental leave
• Healthcare: Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents
• Group Life Insurance: coverage of 9x basic annual salary
• Group Income Protection: up to 75% of basic annual salary
• Optical benefits
• Savings & Retirement: 15% combined employee/employer contributions
• Wellness: Subsidized gym membership
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Time off for volunteering
• Charitable matching of employee donations

EEO Statement

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access for applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.