Employee Relations Specialist, Urban Outfitters Europe
Lifestyle retailer
Job no longer available
Lifestyle retailer
201-500 employees
Job no longer available
201-500 employees
Company mission
To bring together nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future.
Role
Who you are
- Strong experience in an ER-focused HR role, ideally at Senior Advisor or Manager level
- Proven track record of managing complex and high-volume ER cases in a fast-paced environment (retail or multi-site experience desirable)
- Solid working knowledge of UK employment law and best practice
- Experience liaising with legal advisors and managing risk effectively
- Experience supporting managers across varied populations (retail, distribution, customer service, or head office functions)
- Excellent judgement and the ability to assess risk and recommend pragmatic solutions
- Strong communication skills, able to simplify complex issues and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Calm, confident, and resilient, especially when handling sensitive or high-pressure situations
- Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously
- Ability to build trusted relationships quickly and act with integrity and discretion
- A continuous improvement mindset and confidence challenging the status quo
- Collaborative style, able to work seamlessly with HR partners, operational leaders, and external advisors
What the job involves
- You will act as a trusted advisor to our retail, head office, shared service and distribution center teams, providing expert guidance on all aspects of employee relations
- You’ll manage a varied and complex ER caseload, support managers to resolve people issues effectively, and ensure our approach remains fair, consistent, and aligned with our values
- Working closely with legal partners, HR colleagues, and operational leaders, you will lead on more complex cases, help mitigate people-related risk, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our ER practices
- Leading and managing a wide range of ER cases including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, absence, probation, and capability matters
- Providing clear, solution-focused advice to managers at all levels across retail, head office, shared services, and distribution
- Acting as the escalation point for complex or high-risk ER issues, including those requiring legal input
- Preparing case documentation, conducting investigations, and coaching managers to handle issues confidently and consistently
- Partnering with internal Legal and external advisors to manage tribunal risks and ensure compliance with employment legislation
- Identifying ER trends, risks, and root causes, sharing insights to help drive proactive improvements
- Maintaining accurate case records, ensuring appropriate audit trails and data integrity
- Contributing to policy development and continuous improvement of HR and ER processes
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Urban Outfitters started out in the 1970s as a quirky little boutique in Philadelphia with a love for creativity and self-expression. More than 50 years later, it's grown into a globally recognised brand, but it hasn't forgotten where it came from.
It's known for its knack of catching (and keeping) attention with its unique mix of clothing, homeware, and vintage treasures. It connects with a community of over 10M shoppers and is always staying ahead of the trends.
While the brand might feel like an old favourite, it's far from slowing down. It shared record earnings in Q2 2025, with $143.9M in profit and strong growth across all its brands (including its sister companies Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement, and Nuuly). New stores are opening and digital sales are booming, so its fair to say the brand has truly proven itself to be a powerhouse in the retail space.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- Employee discount: Shop your fave brands for less
- Pension: Like to think ahead? We've got you
- Private medical insurance: Your health is important to us
- Birthday break: Take some time to celebrate you
- Career development: Grow at UO
- Volunteering time: Give back to your community
Company HQ
Spitalfields, London, UK
Leadership
Emma Wisden
(Managing Director)Emma has been the Managing Director of Urban Outfitters Europe since 2015. Prior to that, she spent 15 years at Topshop as a Fashion Director.
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