Employee Relations Lead

About Avalere Health

Established in 2001, Avalere Health is a purposefully built commercialization partner for the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness industries.

Our 1,500+ experts combine their knowledge and expertise across our core disciplines — Consulting; Medical; Policy; Value, Evidence, and Access; Marketing; and Digital Experience Technology — to create the connections that make better health happen.

Avalere Health partners with its clients to navigate the complex and rapidly changing healthcare ecosystem. Together, our experts help clients connect patients with life-changing therapies, realizing the potential of strategies and solutions to accelerate innovation that improves lives.

We live and breathe our five values in everything we do: We are authentic. We act with integrity. We value difference. We play for the team. We enjoy the journey. At Avalere Health, we imagine a healthier world and create the connections to make it happen. 

We take pride in being part of the Disability Confident Scheme. This helps make sure you can be interviewed fairly if you have a disability, long term health condition, or are neurodiverse. If you'd like to apply and need adjustments made, you can let us know in your application.

Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits

Location: Hybrid or remote, UK (London or Manchester preferred)

About the role

As the Employee Relations Lead at Avalere Health, you will provide expert legislative and legal guidance while closely partnering with leaders and People Business Partners on all employee relations matters. Your role will be central to ensuring a fair and consistent approach across the organization. You will take the lead on complex employee relations cases, developing effective strategies and processes for managing and resolving these issues. Additionally, you will design and deliver comprehensive training programs for leaders and managers on key Employee Relations topics, such as redundancy procedures, grievance handling, and conflict resolution. Your strong and proven expertise in previous Employee Relations roles, ideally within a People Business Partner model, will be essential to your success in this position.

What you'll do

• Lead complex employee relations cases, including but not limited to redundancy consultations, disciplinaries, grievance investigations, TUPE, harmonisation, and performance management issues.
• Provide expert guidance to People Business Partners and managers on People/ employment policies, procedures, and best practices, ensuring fair and consistent application across the organization.
• Conduct thorough investigations into employee complaints and grievances, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and company policies, in partnership with People Business Partners.
• Collaborate with internal legal counsel and senior leaders to develop strategies for managing and resolving complex employee relations issues.
• Lead redundancy and Reduction In Force (RIF) processes in partnership with the People Partner, including consultation meetings, selection criteria, and redeployment efforts, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and mitigating risk to the organization.
• Manage the harmonization process for newly merged or acquired entities, ensuring alignment of policies, procedures, and practices with company standards and legal requirements.
• Develop and deliver training programs for leaders and managers on employee relations topics, including redundancy procedures, grievance handling, and conflict resolution.
• Keep abreast of changes in UK and US employment laws and regulations and ensure company policies and practices remain compliant. Ensure employment policies, contracts and procedures are legally compliant and fit for purpose.
• Oversee employee handbooks and employment policies and procedures in each region / country ensuring they are legally compliant and aligned with our company culture and ways of working.
• Plan and lead key and complex change programs across the business, on behalf of the People Function, ensuring that we bring people with us on the change journey.
• Create and maintain employment document templates, to ensure standardisation and legislative best practice,
• Responsible for tracking, reporting and cost management of all employee relations cases and related initiatives. Propose KPIs to report upon and analyse employment trends, providing insights to People Function leadership team.
• Maintain effective relationships with employment law partner organisations in the UK and US.

About you

• Proven experience working in an Employee Relations role in a People Business Partner model.
• In-depth understanding of UK employment laws and regulations (US experience is highly advantageous), with demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively influence and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to build relationships and partner closely with leaders and members of the People team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Law, Business Administration, or related field preferable but not essential.
• Commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards and promoting a culture of fairness, respect, and inclusion.