ER Lead

Summary of Role Purpose:

The Employee Relations (“ER”) Lead role reports to the Head of Employee Relations and is accountable for the day-to-day leadership of the capability ER Specialist Team(s). The role provides oversight of complex case management, ensuring consistent, timely and compliant outcomes.  The ER Lead provides deep expertise on ER matters, bringing external market knowledge around competitor activity and industry trends, and acting as an ambassador for KPMG through effective networking.

The ER Lead works collaboratively with senior business leaders, the Employment Law Advisory Team (“ELAT”), ER Investigations Team and Lead HRBPs to set ER standards and drive a robust and high-performance ER culture. The role leads and develops ER talent for the firm, and plays a key role in shaping ER strategy, policy and service evolution.

Description of the role:

The successful candidate will:

• Lead the operational delivery of the ER service, ensuring high-quality, timely and compliant outcomes across ER processes
• Line manage the ER Manager(s), ensuring objectives are clear and stretching developmental support is provided.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex, sensitive and high-risk ER cases, providing clear direction, challenge and support
• Set and oversee ER standards, embedding consistent practice and accountability
• Drive consistent risk and values-based decision making, aligning legal compliance, employee experience and commercial outcomes
• Provide senior technical leadership on ER matters, operating with a high degree of autonomy and professional judgement
• Lead the development of ER capability, championing a strong learning culture in the team
• Take a proactive, consultative and pragmatic approach to managing quality and risk in collaboration with senior stakeholders
• Horizon scan legislative and risk developments, working closely with ELAT to ensure ER policy, process and practice remains compliant and fit for purpose
• Build strong and credible stakeholder partnerships across the business and HR, acting as a trusted advisor and SME
• Ensure accurate and timely case recording and data quality to satisfy our internal governance and regulatory reporting requirements
• Maintain strong external stakeholder relationships (e.g. Occupational Health and other specialist advisors) to bring insight, knowledge and best practice into the firm
• Undertake proactive and regular review of key ER themes and trends across the business, producing data and analytics that drive recommendations and solutions

Role dimensions:

Leadership & Management:

• Lead and provide oversight for ER activity, aligning to the people strategy and values.
• Build ER capability across the business and develop a high performing team, embracing technology to do so.
• Trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, influencing and challenging with confidence and professionalism
• Accountable for ER decision making, standards and outcomes
• Create and analyse ER related data, producing MI and presenting commercially based recommendations and solutions

Stakeholder Interaction & challenges:

• Build strong and enduring relationships with senior business leaders and other key stakeholders
• Collaborate with HR Directors, Lead HRBPs and ELAT.

Impact, Risk, Accountability & Governance:

• Demonstrated discretion, integrity, and confidentiality

The Person:

• Extensive experience in senior-level Employee Relations roles
• Deep knowledge of ER and employment law, with the ability to apply judgement pragmatically
• Proven credibility advising and influencing at a senior level
• Ability to interpret Employment Law and apply commercial decision making to drive outcomes
• Strong leadership capability, with a track record of upskilling, coaching and mentoring senior ER professionals
• Strong project and change management skills
• Strategic and analytical thinker, with the ability to translate data, insight and trends into clear recommendations and actions
• Experience within regulated and matrixed organisations is desirable
• Experience of informal dispute resolution and mediation is desirable

Grade:

B

Job Title:

ER Lead

Locations:

Flexible

Capability:

Corporate Services

Service Line:

Contract Type:

Permanent

The Job Description:

KPMG Overview:

KPMG in the UK is part of a global network of firms that offers Audit, Legal, Tax and Advisory services. Through the talent of over 16,000 colleagues we bring our creativity, insight and experience to solve our clients’ and communities’ biggest problems. We’ve been doing this for more than 150 years.

We aim to be universally recognised as a place for great people to do their best work. A firm known for our collaborative and inclusive culture, using technology to empower and equip our people to deliver outstanding work with real flexibility – through inspiring workspaces, innovative ways to collaborate and hybrid ways of working.

With offices across the UK, we work with everyone from small start-ups and individuals to major multinationals, in virtually every industry imaginable. Our work is often complex, yet our mission is simple: To support the UK in a connected world. It guides everything we do, underpinned by our values: Courage, Integrity, Excellence, Together and For Better.