Title: People Advisor / HR Advisor (Educational Background)
Role Type: 3 months chances of getting permanent after contract
Location: Cumbria, UK (Travels required across Cumbria with minimum 50% in-person requirement)
Working Pattern: Full-time and Part-time (Both are available - Flexible)
*** A full UK driving licence and access to own transport are essential. ***
Travel Expenses: Travel expenses incurred as part of the role will be reimbursed in accordance with the company’s travel and expenses policy.
Overall Purpose of the Role
The HR Advisor will provide a comprehensive, professional and customer-focused HR service to a portfolio of clients, delivering high-quality advice and guidance across a broad range of employee relations and HR matters.
The postholder will provide timely remote support via telephone and email, manage HR casework, maintain accurate records and ensure all advice is compliant with current employment legislation, statutory regulations, organisational policies and client contracts.
The role will involve developing strong client relationships, providing onsite HR support where required, contributing to HR projects and identifying opportunities to support client retention and business growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide professional and timely HR advice and guidance to clients across a broad range of employee relations matters.
- Provide remote HR support via telephone and email, ensuring enquiries and casework are accurately recorded on the CRM system.
- Manage a varied caseload, including complex and high-risk employee relations matters.
- Provide advice and support on disciplinary, grievance, capability, redundancy and absence cases.
- Attend client meetings, investigations, hearings and appeals to provide professional HR advice and support.
- Visit clients across Cumbria for engagement, relationship-building and onsite HR support.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with an allocated portfolio of clients, understanding their business needs and providing solutions that support their objectives.
- Ensure a customer-centric approach is maintained to support high levels of client satisfaction and retention.
- Identify potential opportunities to develop and grow existing client relationships and support the delivery of new business opportunities.
- Provide advice on employment legislation, HR policies, employee relations and equality and diversity matters.
- Work collaboratively with trade unions and other relevant stakeholders to resolve HR issues effectively.
- Contribute to the development and review of HR policies and procedures to support organisational objectives.
- Deliver HR-related training and guidance to clients and managers where required.
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of HR projects and other business initiatives.
- Apply the organisation's business assurance framework to ensure quality, accuracy and consistency in service delivery.
- Undertake quality assurance checks and contribute to the continuous improvement of HR services.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records across relevant computerised and manual systems.
- Contribute to business planning and the achievement of organisational objectives and performance targets.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and wider teams, providing support where required.
- Comply with all organisational policies and procedures, including health and safety, equal opportunities, customer care, security and professional standards.
- Undertake other appropriate duties as required in line with the scope, level and responsibilities of the role.
Qualifications & Professional Development
- HR-related professional qualification. (CIPD)
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) in HR and Employee Relations.
- Chartered-level MCIPD qualification or equivalent professional standing.
Experience & Knowledge
The successful candidate will have:
- Significant experience providing professional HR advice and guidance, particularly in complex and high-risk employee relations cases.
- Strong practical knowledge and understanding of current UK employment legislation and its application within the workplace.
- Experience managing a varied HR caseload while effectively prioritising competing demands.
- Proven experience handling sensitive and complex disciplinary, grievance, capability, redundancy and absence cases.
- Experience establishing credibility and building effective relationships with clients and non-HR professionals.
- Experience communicating complex HR and employment matters clearly, simply and persuasively.
- Experience working directly with clients to identify and resolve HR issues.
- Experience working and consulting with trade unions.
- Experience contributing to the development and implementation of HR policies.
- Experience providing employee relations and employee resourcing advice within education-based organisations or similar client environments.
- Experience contributing effectively to multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience designing and/or delivering HR training events.
Skills & Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, accurate and practical HR advice.
- Strong employee relations and case management skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply employment legislation effectively.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to build credibility with clients and stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and service quality.
- Ability to undertake quality assurance checks and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Ability to use IT systems effectively to deliver HR services, manage enquiries and record casework.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and Outlook/email.
- Creative and innovative approach to problem-solving.
- Ability and willingness to travel to client sites and attend onsite meetings across Cumbria.
- Current and valid driving licence with access to own transport.
Location & Travel
This is a client-facing HR role combining remote HR support with onsite client engagement. The postholder will be required to travel to client sites across Cumbria when necessary, including for meetings, investigations, hearings, appeals, training, relationship-building and other client engagement activities.