Union Vacancies jobs

The role

Southern Housing is looking for 2 experienced Employee Relations Specialist to deliver high‑quality ER support across our organisation. Reporting to the Lead ER Manager, you will manage complex casework, coach managers, and help us build a consistent, collaborative People service.

These positions are fixed term contract until the 30 June 2027

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide expert, legally compliant advice on ER matters including sickness, conduct, capability and grievance
• Support and oversee the work of an ER Advisor
• Build strong relationships with managers, colleagues, and trade union representatives
• Analyse ER data, identify trends, and provide insights to improve performance
• Support Employment Tribunal preparation, including drafting ET3 responses
• Maintain People policies and contribute to People-related projects
• Meet SLAs and respond promptly to queries via shared inbox and ticketing system
• Deputise for the Lead ER Manager when needed
• Work closely with colleagues across the wider People directorate – including Learning & Culture, Talent Acquisition and Strategic People Business Partners
• Contribute to manager capability by supporting development and delivery of upskilling sessions

This role will be based at our main office in Farringdon and may require visits to our main offices when needed. This role operates in a hybrid way when appropriate and as agreed with your manager.

What you’ll need:

• Significant experience of managing complex and multi-faceted employee relations matters
• Experience of effectively managing high volume caseload
• CIPD Level 5 or qualified by experience (CIPD Level 7 desirable)
• Experience preparing papers for Employment Tribunals
• Strong knowledge of all aspects relating to employee relations
• Ability to handle sensitive and challenging situations professionally

In your supporting statement, it is important that you address how you meet each of the above six criteria providing real examples.

Closing Date: 14 June 2026

Shortlisting Date: 15 June 2026

Interview Date: interviews and tests will take place in the week commencing 22 June 2026 and will be held via Microsoft Teams

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application and supporting statement as soon as possible so your application can be reviewed and considered.

Applying for roles with us

About us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own!We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people’s lives.

A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.

What's in it for you

• Pension
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Eyecare & dental
• Birthday leave
• Retailers discounts
• Cycle to work
• Buy & sell annual leave
• Season ticket loan
• In-house academy & career development
• Flexible working

Inclusion & Diversity

We work hard to create a diverse and inclusive culture and environment where people are respected for who they are. Encouraging inclusion is not just about protected characteristics, it’s about celebrating differences of thought, opinion, experience and perspective of each individual.

We’re all different in our own way and we want our colleagues to feel comfortable, that they belong, and are safe to be themselves at work, without fear of being judged or excluded, but valued for their contribution to our One Team approach.

Work Location: In person