Senior Employee Relations Advisor

Job summary

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

To protect a nation, we need people with all kinds of skills. That means everyone from architects to accountants, and electricians to engineers. Our HR team knows this well. They’re the ones who offer support every step of the way, helping us attract, train, develop and retain a range of brilliantly talented colleagues. Now, you’ve got the opportunity to join them.

Putting people first.

Growing talent from within.

Finding your potential.

It all matters.

Supporting the organisation to build strong, positive employee relations

Our HR team is a friendly and collaborative group of dedicated specialists, and when you join us in this role you’ll focus on providing your colleagues with the advice and support they need to uphold excellent people management practices and maintain positive employee relations. You’ll act as a lead casework advisor on a wide range of complex issues including grievance, disciplinary, absence and performance, up to and including dismissals and supporting the preparation of documents for Employment Tribunals.

Committed to developing strong and consultative relationships with managers, and other HR colleagues, you’ll always be ready to use your experience and judgment to resolve issues successfully in line with process. You’ll also be providing team members, managers and other leaders with education, awareness and coaching relating to employee relations policy. You’ll work to ensure that your knowledge of HR and Employment Law is up to date, provide guidance on the latest policies, practices and procedures.

Use all your HR skills with an organisation that helps to keep the country secure

To be a success in this important role you should have a wealth of experience in employee relations, well developed knowledge of employment law, a Level 5 CIPD qualification or equivalent experience, and strong influencing and communication skills. With this in mind, you should possess the ability to provide your colleagues with support on projects and at periods of peak capacity and be capable of working on supporting the Employee Relations Lead with broader team priorities.

Awareness of the civil service’s HR policies and controls would be desirable, as would the ability to coach and mentor. In addition, some experience of working with trade unions would be an advantage, and we’ll also expect you to be a confident user of IT, with a particular focus on Microsoft’s suite of software.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

We’re always looking to improve – just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Security Check (SC) clearance. You can find out more about vetting at fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Closing date: 11.55pm Sunday 26th April 2026

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

We are looking for people with:

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience
• Strong employee relations experience and employment law knowledge
• Strong influencing and communication skills

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience
• Strong employee relations experience and employment law knowledge
• Strong influencing and communication skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,332, FCDO Services contributes £11,104 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details

• career history with key responsibilities

• achievements

• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked to complete a job specific exercise along with being asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from FCDO Services, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit their website.

Attachments

Candidate pack - C4 Senior ER Advisor Opens in new window (pdf, 1804kB)