Interim Global Employee Relations Lead

Role Overview

An experienced Employee Relations Manager role designed to build and strengthen Checkout.com's global ER approach. This is not a full-time case-handling role but focuses on building systems, tools, policies, and capabilities that enable People teams and managers to manage ER situations effectively, with backup support for complex or sensitive cases.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Framework Development

• Develop a clear ER strategy and operating model aligned with business structure, risk appetite, and future scale
• Create modern, user-friendly frameworks, playbooks, and toolkits for People Partners and managers to independently navigate ER issues (grievances, disciplinaries, performance management, redundancies, sickness absence management, etc.)
• Design decision trees, case categorisation models, escalation pathways, and quality standards that reinforce consistency, speed, and commercial decision-making
• Introduce mechanisms that reduce dependency on ER specialists while improving capability across the People Partner and leadership populations

Training & Capability Building

• Develop and deliver structured training for People Partners, managers, and leaders on ER best practices, investigations, performance management, and policy application
• Provide live, on-the-job coaching and case mentorship to build capability and reduce escalations
• Build digital self-service content and learning modules that empower employees and decrease reliance on ER experts
• Facilitate quarterly ER simulation training using real Checkout case patterns to build confidence and decision-making ability

Policy & Compliance

• Audit and benchmark existing ER policies, identifying opportunities for simplification, clarity, and alignment to culture, legal standards, and commercial needs
• Draft and implement updated and new ER-related policies (conduct, grievances, investigations, performance management, etc.) that are globally consistent but locally adaptable
• Build a global ER policy architecture that supports scale, transparency, and ease of application by non-experts

Process Modernisation & Technology

• Assess and strengthen Employee Relations case management practices by identifying opportunities where tooling could add value
• Redesign ER processes end-to-end to make them scalable, efficient, data-driven, and globally consistent
• Identify opportunities to embed AI in workflows (case intake, document drafting, triage tools, early-risk detection, theme identification, etc.) to improve speed, accuracy, and decision consistency
• Define governance, controls, and safe-use practices for AI-supported ER tools in partnership with Legal, Tech, and Compliance
• Lead implementation of new systems, workflows, and tooling that modernise the ER experience

Case Support & Strategic Advisory

• Act as a strategic advisor for complex and sensitive cases, balancing legal risk, culture, commercial impacts, and reputational considerations
• Provide high-quality support for high-risk or high-complexity cases, including sensitive conduct issues
• Drive consistency and fairness across decisions by supporting calibration, case reviews, and cross-team alignment discussions
• Serve as the primary escalation point for ER appeals and critical decision reviews

Data & Insights

• Use ER data, insights, and trends to identify behavioural themes, systemic risks, and opportunities for proactive intervention
• Partner with People, Legal, and business leaders to design interventions that strengthen trust, fairness, accountability, and performance discipline
• Ensure the ER approach reinforces positive employee experience, organisational values, and an environment where good performance and good conduct are expected and managed consistently
• Continuously scan for external developments in ER, AI, legal changes, and people risk—and translate them into actionable improvements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum ~6 years experience in a dedicated ER role (such as ER Manager or ER CoE role)
• Experience designing and implementing ER frameworks, policy and tooling
• Proven track record operating in a global business with employees across multiple regions
• Proven ability to build policy, processes, and training from scratch or in a rapidly evolving environment
• Strong investigative skills and deep understanding of employment law across multiple regions
• Excellent communication, coaching, and influencing skills
• High integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and a balanced, pragmatic approach

Preferred Skills

• Experience integrating AI tools or technology into HR/ER processes (or strong appetite to develop this skill)

Work Arrangement

• 12 Month Fixed Term Contract
• 3 days a week in office
• London location
• Senior and Expert level

Compensation

• Salary not provided