Employee Relations Lead

Home. There’s no place like it. And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We’re the UK's number one choice for homewares because we make home life lovelier for our customers. And the caring and supportive culture we've created makes this a place you'll feel right at home too.

We are the UK’s Number One homewares retailer offering c 85,000 products building a consumer-focused total retail business that delights customers through our multichannel operation.

We are ambitious in our plans to drive further expansion of the business to more customers, shopping more frequently, with more choice, enhanced digital and physical services, and new capabilities to innovate and operate at pace in a fast-changing landscape. In developing the business for the long-term benefit of our customers, we are investing in our supply chain, stores and technology to improve the customer proposition as we move forward.

Department Overview

With our people being at the heart of Dunelm, the People Team is critical in driving and enabling business performance and strategic ambitions through a combination of effective people partnering and providing an overall people proposition that delivers a colleague experience in line with our Dunelm values.

We’re proud to have a passionate, forward-thinking team who is there to partner our business leaders to deliver their stretching goals and plans through teams of diverse, capable and engaged colleagues.

We bring together a vibrant mix of expertise, from data-driven minds to creative thinkers, to our specialists, all working together to design, deliver, and continuously improve initiatives that empower our colleagues, create a sense of belonging and a place to grow and thrive.

With exciting projects always on the go and plenty of opportunities to shape and elevate the colleague experience and improve business outcomes, the People team is an inspiring, collaborative place to be and one we’re always challenging ourselves to have the highest impact - now and in the future.

The Employee Relations Lead is responsible for promoting a positive and productive work environment and culture by managing employee relations matters with fairness, consistency and professionalism. This role is ideal for someone with a strong interest in employment law, policy development and continuous improvement of workplace practices.

In this role you will support leaders and people partners by advising on complex employee relations issues, conducting or facilitating investigations and driving compliance with employment law and ethical standards. You will also play a key role in reviewing and enhancing people policies to reflect best practices and evolving legislation. Additionally, the role involves upskilling leaders to confidently own and manage employee relations matters, apply policies consistently and build trust, inclusion, and accountability.

Role Responsibilities:

• Serve as a subject matter expert on employee relations matters, providing guidance to leaders and people partners.
• Manage and support with the resolution of complex employee relations issues, including guidance on investigations, disciplinary actions, grievances and conflict resolutions.
• Partner with People Business Partners and Legal to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Give guidance in thorough, objective, and confidential investigations into colleague complaints and concerns.
• Maintain accurate documentation and case management records.
• Monitor trends and risk using data and insight metrics in partnership with the People team to influence proactive interventions and continuous improvement.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of employee relations and wider people policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with current legislation and best practice.
• Upskill and coach leaders to confidently manage people matters, apply policies fairly and consistently, and create a positive and inclusive team culture.
• Design and deliver training sessions and resources on performance management, conflict resolution, and employment law compliance.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and other stakeholders to manage risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Stay current on employment legislation and best practices, sharing insights and recommendations with the wider People team.
• Contribute to organisational change initiatives, including restructures, TUPE, and consultation processes.
• Champion a positive employee experience and support the development of a strong, values-led culture.
• Liaise with our 3rd party employment law experts as our key Dunelm representative in employee relations matters, leveraging their services when required to reach the best outcomes for the business.

What we will look for in you:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (CIPD qualification preferred Level 7).
• Proven experience in employee relations or people generalist roles including ER case work.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and people practices.
• Experience conducting investigations and managing complex ER cases.
• Experience of writing and updating People policies in line with employment law and best practice changes in a way that is inclusive, engaging and educational for all colleagues and leaders.
• Commercially focused and decisive decision making skills, balancing risk.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Skilled at educating and influencing leaders in an engaging way
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Desirable Skills:

• Empathetic and fair-minded approach to resolving issues.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.