ER and Policy Specialist
| Posting date: | 25 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £43,936 to £48,810 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 October 2025 |
| Location: | Birmingham, B19 3SD |
| Company: | West Midlands Combined Authority |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | WMCA/TP/154/675 |
Summary
Are you passionate about creating fair, inclusive, and legally sound workplaces?
We’re looking for an Employee Relations & Policy Specialist to join People and Culture team at WMCA. In this pivotal role, you’ll provide expert guidance on a wide range of employee relations matters, manage complex casework from start to finish, and lead the development and implementation of people policies.
You’ll play a key part in strengthening our approach to case management, policy governance, and workforce risk, ensuring we meet our legal obligations while supporting a positive and consistent employee experience.
What you will be doing
- Contribute to shaping the ER service to support inclusion, engagement and organisational values and provide evidence.
- Identify patterns and trends in ER casework and escalate risks or areas for improvement to the ER & Policy Manager.
- Work on the continuous improvement of policy governance, casework processes, and workforce relations across the organisation.
- Keep abreast of changes in employment law and the implications for policy changes and their implementation.
- Maintain relations with the Diversity Networks to ensure appropriate involvement in policy reviews.
- Build manager capability through coaching and support.
- Deliver consistent, timely, and legally informed advice to managers across the full spectrum of employee relations issues.
- Work with the OD, Change & Transformation team in designing and delivering policy and ER-related training sessions and resources for managers and colleagues.
- Manage a range of employee relations cases from informal resolution through to formal hearings.
- Engage constructively with Trade Union representatives and others involved in ER case management.
- Promote early intervention and proportionate outcomes to reduce cost and legal exposure.
- Ensure ER recommendations are fair, robust and financially sustainable.
- Support inclusion, wellbeing, and continuous improvement across all people delivery.
What you need
- Educated to at least degree level.
- CIPD qualified to level 5 minimum.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Proven experience advising and supporting on informal approaches through to complex employee relations issues across the casework lifecycle.
- Evidence of providing value-add HR advice on a range of employment matters to stakeholders across the entire employee lifecycle.
- Evidence of using coaching skills to develop manager’s competence and confidence in dealing with people management issues.
- Experience of developing and delivering people process and policy related training.
- Experience in contributing to the development, implementation or review of HR policies.
- Experience of supporting organisational change processes. Understanding and knowledge of relevant employment legislation.
Location.
The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.
How to apply.
Applying for a role with WMCA is straight forward. Follow these steps to get started.
- Create your Careers Account.Register with your name, email address, and a password.
- Build your Profile.Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
- Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
- Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.
Anonymised Applications.
Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. it’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We cannot stop anyone from using AI help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.
Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.
Reasonable adjustments.
If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).
Salary and benefits.
We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
- 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more)
- EV car benefit scheme
- Ethical saving options and healthcare plans.
- Discounted gym membership, will writingandmortgage advice.
- An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
- 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
- Interest free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
- Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more.
For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.
Why join WMCA?
WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.
We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.
Creating an inclusive workplace.
WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.
We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.
We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying
Right to Work in the UK
Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.
Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme