Employee Relations Specialist

Who you are

• This is a role for someone who takes real pride in getting ER right, both for the business and for the individual, and who's excited by the chance to streamline and modernise how we manage casework administration
• Significant, demonstrable experience managing employee relations caseloads end-to-end within a UK employment context, including disciplinaries, grievances, capability, absence and investigations
• A deep working knowledge of the ACAS Code of Practice and UK employment law, with the confidence to apply both in practice
• Experience managing cases involving trade union representatives or shop stewards
• A track record of producing high-quality employee relations documentation, from scripts and invitation letters to detailed investigation reports and outcome letters
• Strong organisational skills and administrative rigour, with a natural ability to keep accurate records in a process-driven environment
• Genuine enthusiasm for improving how employee relations administration works, with an interest in automation and building better systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage clearly and empathetically with employees and managers at all levels
• Ideally, some exposure to employee relations or employment law in European jurisdictions such as France, Spain or Italy. You may also have a CIPD qualification (or be working towards one), or experience in a fast-paced, high-growth or technology business

What the job involves

• Our People team is here to make Trainline a great place to work, and employee relations sits right at the heart of that
• As our Employee Relations Specialist, you'll be the go-to expert for ER casework across the business on a 12-month fixed term contract, owning cases end-to-end and giving managers the confident, practical guidance they need at every stage, from a tricky conversation to a formal investigation
• You'll work closely with line managers, HR Business Partners and the wider People team, building the templates, toolkits and processes that help us handle ER consistently and efficiently as we grow
• Own and manage a varied caseload of employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, capability processes, absence management and settlement agreements, from initial scoping through to resolution
• Lead formal investigations, including planning investigation scope, conducting interviews, gathering evidence and producing clear, objective investigation reports
• Chair or support formal hearings, such as disciplinary, grievance, capability and appeal hearings, and prepare the accompanying outcome documentation
• Apply the ACAS Code of Practice and current UK employment law consistently, ensuring every case reflects Trainline's policies and standards
• Manage cases involving trade union representatives with professionalism and care, drawing on a solid understanding of collective employee relations obligations
• Provide practical, confident advice to line managers and HR Business Partners, coaching them to build their own capability in handling employee relations matters
• Spot patterns across casework and flag emerging or systemic issues to the People leadership team
• Own case administration and documentation, including letters, scripts, file notes and case trackers, while identifying opportunities to streamline and automate our employee relations processes

Benefits

• Flexible working (60% min office attendance)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym memberships through Wellhub
• Private Health and Dental Insurance
• Enhanced Pension (matched contributions)
• Income Protection
• Share Incentive Plan (buy one get one free)
• Learning budget
• Primary & Secondary Caregiver Leave
• Shared Parental Leave
• Enhanced sick pay
• Free Perkbox subscription
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• YellowNest - Subsidised Childcare Fees
• Work from Abroad