Investigating Officer

About the Role

The University of Warwick is looking for an Investigating Officer to join its People Team at an important stage of development, as the newly created Case Management function is strengthened and made more structured. In this position, you will handle fair, thorough and high-quality investigations that help deliver a dependable employee relations service across the institution.

You will manage a varied caseload of complex and sensitive matters, such as staff grievances and complaints, misconduct allegations, bullying and harassment cases, discrimination issues, safeguarding concerns and other high-risk cases that need formal investigation. Your work will involve preparing clear, impartial and evidence-led reports that enable fair and prompt decisions.

The role involves close collaboration with colleagues in People Partnering, Conduct & Resolution, Legal Services and recognised Trade Unions. You will ensure investigations meet relevant standards, comply with best practice guidance from organisations such as CIPD, UUK and the OIA, and support improvements in process, policy and practice. You will also contribute to quality assurance, help build investigative capability within the team, and support ongoing learning across the organisation.

This is a varied and influential post that offers the chance to help shape standards, coach colleagues and contribute to university-wide learning. Because the work will involve highly sensitive and challenging situations, you will need strong judgement, resilience and a calm, professional manner.

About You

This opportunity is well suited to an experienced and assured employee relations or higher education professional who brings strong analytical ability, excellent communication skills and the confidence to work independently while remaining part of a collaborative team. You should be comfortable balancing competing priorities, keeping documentation accurate and compliant, and presenting findings clearly to a range of stakeholders, including appeal panels and, when needed, employment tribunals.

If you are committed to delivering fair, balanced and high-quality investigations and want to help strengthen case management capability, this role could be a strong fit for you.

About the Department

The post sits within the People Partnering team, supported by the People Operations team and specialist Centres of Excellence covering Employee Relations, Talent and Development, and Reward. The team is focused on helping colleagues across the university reach their full potential while supporting the institution’s three priorities: excellence, financial sustainability, and rankings and reputation.

About the University

The University of Warwick is a globally recognised research-intensive university established in 1965. It is ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK, and 92% of its research is assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. More information about the university is available on its official website.

Informal Queries

For an informal discussion about the position, you can contact Sue Horner, Head of Case Management, by email.

Flexible Working

Although the role is advertised as full-time, applications for part-time arrangements or other flexible working patterns, including job share, will be considered.

How to Apply

The closing date for applications is Thursday 18 June 2026 at 11:55pm UK time. Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter. The application documents should include a full employment and education history, the reasons for applying, and clear examples showing how the essential and desirable criteria in the job description are met.

The interview dates are 22 and 23 June 2026, and the expected start date is 1 July 2026. Applications must be submitted by the closing deadline through the university’s careers portal; applications started before the deadline cannot be submitted after it has passed. Candidates may also include any career breaks, such as parental, caring or long-term sick leave. If the essential criteria are not demonstrated, the panel may not shortlist the application.

What We Offer

The university provides a broad benefits package, including an attractive pension scheme, 30 days of annual leave plus the Christmas closure period, generous parental/adoption leave, onsite childcare and strong learning and development opportunities. Flexible working arrangements are also supported to help maintain a healthy work-life balance. The university is also a Living Wage employer.

Inclusion and Equality

The university states its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and invites applicants to review its commitments for further information.

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not currently have the right to work in the UK and/or need Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, further guidance is available through the university’s right-to-work information.