Specialist, Employee Relations

Strategy:

• Shape GBS India culture and conduct by managing employee-related risks and ensuring compliance with employment laws and the Group ER framework.
• Serve as a member of the Country Employee Relations (ER) teams, providing advisory and guidance on Disciplinary, Grievance, Performance, Redundancy, and Case Management.
• Maintain positive employee relationships while ensuring compliance with relevant employment laws and Group ER policies.
• Effectively manage key external stakeholder relationships, including legal firms and local labour departments.

Business:

• Support GBS India in translating country legislation and regulation into actionable steps for GBS teams.
• Build and maintain external networks to stay updated on legislative changes and demonstrate expertise in ER.
• Collaborate with country HR Legal & Compliance (L&C) teams and external legal firms for advice and interpretation of local laws, ER policies, POSH compliance, and cases.
• Maintain communication with local labour ministries on ER matters and HR-related policies and procedures.
• Manage the core ER investigation process, performance case management, advisory, redundancy process, internal appeal, and grievance process.
• Lead the Global ER product and ensure the implementation of Group Policy standards related to Disciplinary, Grievance, Redundancy, and Performance Management.

Processes:

• Manage the end-to-end process for disciplinary, grievance, redundancy, and performance management standards in the country/entity.
• Define and maintain global product execution standards in line with Group policy.

Risk Management:

• Define and manage employee-related risks across the region, aligning with the operational risk management framework.
• Identify, assess, and monitor ER process risks, implementing suitable actions to mitigate identified risks.
• Develop an understanding of employee trends and current employment laws to minimize risks.
• Resolve sensitive or complex disciplinary and grievance cases that pose a risk to the Bank.

Governance:

• Ensure compliance with ER standards for Disciplinary, Grievance, Redundancy, and Performance Management.

Regulatory & Business Conduct:

• Display exemplary conduct, living by the Group's Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take responsibility for embedding high standards of ethics, regulatory compliance, and business conduct across Standard Chartered Bank.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank's Conduct Principles: Fair Outcomes for Clients, Effective Financial Markets, Financial Crime Compliance, and The Right Environment.
• Collaborate with others to identify, escalate, mitigate, and resolve risk, conduct, and compliance matters.

Key Stakeholders:

• Internal:
• Global ER, FA, and Conduct teams
• Business Heads of HR in GBS
• GBS HR Business Partners (HRBPs)
• HR Legal & Compliance (L&C)
• GBS India Financial Crime Risk teams
• GBS India Performance, Reward, and Benefit (PRB) teams
• External:
• Employee Representative Bodies
• Employment/Labour Government departments
• Legal firms

Other Responsibilities:

• Issue letters of suspension, dismissal, and other HR/Industrial Relations-related issues as decided by the Bank.
• Embed the Group's brand and values within the ER team and across key stakeholder areas.
• Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business, or Functional policies and procedures.

Skills and Experience:

• Confidential Investigations
• Employee Relations
• Employment Law
• HR Legal and Regulatory Environment
• Investigations Reports
• ER Advisory & Case Management
• HR Policies, Standards, and Procedures

Qualifications:

• Education: Degree in HR or Law (LLB, MSW, MBA, MA, or equivalent).
• Training: Labour Laws, POSH, etc.

Essential:

• Minimum 12 years experience as a qualified employment lawyer or ER specialist.
• Strong understanding of local legislative and regulatory policies.
• Proven track record of influencing at an organizational level.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and commercial awareness.

Desirable:

• Post-graduate qualifications in business or related disciplines (e.g., MSW, MBA, MA, PGD).
• Professional legal or HR background with both ER specialist and HRBP experience.
• Experience in designing and delivering organizational development interventions.