People Relations and Culture Specialist

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People Relations and Culture Specialist

The closing date is 30 September 2025

Are you an experienced HR professional with a passion for fair, values-led employee relations? If so, we've got the perfect opportunity for you!

As our People Relations and Culture Specialist, you'll play a key role in delivering expert support across a wide range of employee relations matters from sickness absence and grievances to disciplinary cases and informal conflict resolution. You'll be a trusted advisor, helping managers navigate challenging situations with confidence and compassion, while promoting our Just and Restorative Learning approach.

Working closely with the People Hub, Staff Networks, Trade Unions, and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, you'll help foster a psychologically safe and inclusive workplace. Your work will directly impact the colleague experience and ensure our people practices are fair, consistent, and aligned with NICE values.

Main duties of the job

In this hands-on and impactful role, you'll be central to managing and improving employee relations across NICE.

• Providing expert advice and coaching on complex employee relations issues, including sickness absence, grievances, and disciplinary cases.
• Supporting managers with casework escalated from the People Hub and developing local wellbeing plans.
• Promoting informal resolution and restorative conversations as first-choice mechanisms.
• Collaborating with Staff Networks, Trade Unions, and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians to triangulate soft intelligence and improve colleague experience.
• Maintaining and improving casework trackers and databases to support accurate reporting and trend analysis.
• Contributing to policy reviews and improvements through a restorative and just lens.
• Supporting the delivery of EDI strategies and contributing to culture change initiatives.
• Acting as a cultural ambassador, promoting psychological safety and inclusive leadership.

About us

As part of the People team and wider Facilities, Improvement & People Directorate, we've achieved:

• Elevated Engagement: We've soared to new heights, as the leading Directorate to become the top-performing team in the organisation!
• Driven Real Change: By embedding a Restorative, Just, and Learning Culture, we've made a tangible impact that's already transforming our workplace.
• Strengthened Union Partnerships: We've turned challenges into opportunities, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.
• Championed Inclusivity: Our commitment to diversity and representation has led to measurable improvements, making our team more inclusive than ever before.

Join Our Team - What we can offer you:

• Supportive Team Culture: We believe in lifting each other up and encouraging open communication. Here, your voice truly matters!
• Flexible & Hybrid Work Environment: Enjoy working from home and in our modern offices in the centre of Manchester and Stratford, London.
• Professional Growth: Unlock opportunities for continuous learning and career advancement.
• Inclusive Workplace: Be part of a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels valued.

Want to Learn More? For further information on this exciting opportunity, reach out to Jools Steadman, our Head of People Relations and Culture, at . Jools is eager to discuss how you can be part of our dynamic team!

Job responsibilities

To be considered for this role, you should be able to particularly demonstrate the person specification criteria in the job advert in your application.

However, applicants should be able to demonstrate all essential criteria through the entirety of the recruitment process to be considered for the job.

What You'll Bring: HR Expertise: CIPD Level 5 qualified (or equivalent), with solid HR knowledge and experience. Legal Know-How: Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice. Clear Communicator: Able to explain complex issues clearly, both in writing and in person. Restorative Mindset: Emotionally intelligent with a passion for fair, values-led people practices. Casework Confidence: Skilled in managing multi-stranded and contentious employment cases. Data-Informed: Confident using data to spot trends and drive continuous improvement.

Person Specification Education

• Degree level education or equivalent demonstrable experience in a similar role

Experience

• Proven experience managing complex and sensitive employee relations cases (e.g. sickness absence, grievances, disciplinary matters)
• Experience of advising managers on formal people relations meetings including appeals, dismissals, and Employment Tribunals
• Experience of using case management systems (e.g. Case Tracker) to analyse trends and outcomes

Skills

• Demonstrated and proven strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence and apply restorative approaches to conflict resolution

Other

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and psychologically safe working environments

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

NICE - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence