Associate, People Solutions & Advisory

Purpose of Job

Working under the guidance of the Principal, People Solutions & Advisory, the Associate provides expert advice and practical solutions across the employee lifecycle, with particular focus on health and wellbeing, absence management, performance improvement, mediation, and associated employee relations matters.

The role acts as a trusted adviser to managers, staff members, HR Business Partners and Centres of Expertise, ensuring policy and process is applied consistently, fairly and pragmatically across the Bank.

The Associate uses HR best practice, strong policy and process expertise, data insights, and business knowledge to identify risks, evaluate options, influence decision-making, and contribute to the development of effective people solutions, strategies and organisational outcomes.

The role supports strategic insight generation through the effective management of case data, accurate record keeping, analysis of case trends, and oversight of outsourced service providers. 

A key aspect of the role is developing manager capability across the Bank through targeted case interventions, coaching, practical guidance, training initiatives and manager toolkits, enabling consistent and effective management of people-related matters.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

HR Advisory & Case Management

• Manage complex health, absence, performance improvement and related employee relations cases from initial assessment through to closure.
• Provide accurate, balanced and risk-aware advice to managers and staff members, in compliance with Bank policies.
• Translate complex policy requirements into practical and accessible manager guidance.
• Identify risks, precedents and broader organisational implications arising from casework and escalate appropriately.
• Support managers through sensitive conversations and challenging staff member situations.
• Maintain fair and objective decision-making balancing employee health and wellbeing with organisational requirements and business needs.
• Ensure all case management records, documentation and audit trails are accurate, complete and maintained within agreed standards.

Strategic Insight & Workforce Analytics

• Analyse case trends, absence data, performance themes and employee relations indicators to identify emerging organisational risks and opportunities.
• Support the preparation of presentations and insights for HR Leadership Team discussions and decision-making.
• Support case reporting and translate data and case trends into meaningful insights, contributing to practical recommendations that drive policy, process, service and organisational improvements and support informed decision-making.
• Analyse people data and translate findings into actionable recommendations and management reports for the Head of Employee Relations, PS&A leadership and MD HROD.

Continuous Improvement & Systems Leadership

• Lead and support improvements to HR processes, systems, policies, procedures and guidance materials.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery and employee experience and recommend practical solutions.
• Support implementation of HR transformation initiatives and new technologies.
• Promote best practice use of case management systems and data governance standards.

Manager Capability & Organisational Support

• Develop and deliver ad hoc training to strengthen manager confidence and capability.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of manager toolkits, resources, guides and process documentation.

Vendor & External Relationship Management

• Proactively manage relationship with Occupational Health, Incapacity Insurance and Mediation providers.
• Proactively monitor vendor performance against agreed service standards, analysing data and emerging trends to identify risks, challenge underperformance, escalate issues where necessary, and propose and implement solutions that improve service delivery and reduce organisational risk.
• Analyse vendor data and provide insight to support strategic decision-making and contract optimisation.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships and work collaboratively with HR Business Partners and Centres of Expertise to implement HR initiatives and deliver integrated and high-quality HR services and operational case management.
• Provide proactive updates and recommendations to stakeholders on emerging risks, trends and case outcomes.
• Support cross-functional initiatives that contribute to organisational effectiveness and efficiency.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching and support to PS&A Analyst.
• Share knowledge, best practice and technical expertise within the team.
• Support colleagues during periods of increased demand to ensure continuity of service.
• Contribute to building a culture of collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.

Project Delivery

• Lead and contribute to strategic and operational projects within PS&A and the wider HR function.
• Support planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes.
• Take ownership of agreed deliverables, ensuring timely execution.
• Contribute and lead on assigned HR transformation activities.
• This job description is not limited to the responsibilities listed and the incumbent may be requested to perform other relevant duties as required by business needs.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Experience

• HR advisory experience across employee relations, performance improvement, health and attendance management.
• Experience managing complex and sensitive employee cases.
• Experience interpreting and applying HR policy, process, governance and employment-related frameworks.
• Experience working with case management systems and HR technologies.
• Experience analysing data and providing business-focused, evidence-based insights and recommendations.
• Experience managing external suppliers or vendor relationships is desirable.
• Experience delivering training, coaching or capability-building activities is desirable.
• Experience of working in a multi-national environment with a dispersed workforce is preferred.
• Experience in applying coaching techniques.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong judgement, proactive decision-making and risk-assessment capability.
• Strong partnership and client orientation skills to enable positive engagement with stakeholders across HR and throughout the Bank.
• Ability to challenge constructively, influence diplomatically and provide credible advice to all levels of staff and management.
• Self-motivated with excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong ability to prioritise and multitask is essential.
• Ability to identify organisational trends and translate data into actionable insight.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, HR systems and data analysis tools.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).