Lead Employee Relations Specialist

We are looking for an enthusiastic Employee Relations Specialist Lead to join our growing ER & Policy Team in Bristol

About the team
You’ll join a supportive and experienced Employee Relations team, working on a wide range of matters that have real impact across the firm. The role is based in Bristol, with a hybrid working approach that combines home and office‑based working. Occasional travel between CMS offices may be required in line with business needs.

What you’ll do

Lead complex, sensitive and high‑risk employee relations cases for employees and partners, managing investigations and outcomes end to end in a way that is fair, consistent and aligned with firm policies and employment law requirements.
Act as a senior escalation point within the ER team, providing cover for the Senior Manager, Employee Relations on critical cases and supporting ER specialists through coaching, guidance and quality oversight.
Contribute to ER and policy‑related projects and initiatives that strengthen the firm’s culture, governance and people practices.
Advise and influence HR colleagues, managers and senior stakeholders on ER matters, with a strong focus on risk management, confidentiality and compliance, and a willingness to seek specialist advice where appropriate.
Provide ER expertise on redundancy and restructuring programmes, working closely with HR colleagues on approach, timelines, communications and risk.
Use ER data, insights and case management systems to identify themes, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement, supporting continuous improvement and robust governance across ER activity.

What you’ll bring

Strong technical expertise in employee relations and employment policy, demonstrated through relevant professional experience.
Experience of managing complex ER cases and advising a wide range of stakeholders with professionalism and credibility.
The ability to communicate complex or sensitive information clearly and appropriately, both verbally and in writing.
Experience of coaching and supporting managers and HR colleagues on ER matters, including constructively challenging decisions where required.
Analytical capability, with experience using ER data and insights to inform decisions, identify trends and support business outcomes.
Experience of contributing to people‑related projects, change initiatives or policy development within a complex organisational environment.

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)

• Flexible, hybrid working policy

• Generous bonus scheme

• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)

• Holiday exchange scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Enhanced parental leave

• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.