HR Advisor

Position:HR Advisor

School / Service: Human Resources

Hours: Full time (36.25)

Reporting to: HR Operations Manager

Main Function of the Position:

To provide professional, proactive and pragmatic employee relations advice and support to managers across the University, ensuring that people matters are managed fairly, consistently and in accordance with employment legislation, University policies and best practice
To manage a varied employee relations caseload including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, capability, performance, dignity at work, probation, flexible working and organisational change matters, supporting managers to achieve effective and timely outcomes
To contribute to the development of positive employee relations, workforce wellbeing and people management capability through coaching, training and continuous improvement initiatives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
1. To work closely with HR Business Partners, HR Operations Manager, and Head of HR & Culture to ensure that employee relations matters are progressed in line with policy, procedure and ACAS guidelines. This includes but is not limited to Disciplinary; Grievance; Sickness Absence; Capability; Probation; Performance Management; Flexible Working; Dignity at Work; Investigations; Appeal

2. Provide professional HR advice and guidance to managers on all employee relations matters

3. Develop and advise on pragmatic approaches to handling employee relations matters, and complex cases

4. Support preparation for Tribunal, including preliminary hearings; witness statements; and bundle preparation support; liaising with external legal advisors as necessary

5. Coach and support managers throughout formal HR processes to ensure consistency, fairness and legal compliance

6. Attend formal meetings to provide procedural advice and guidance, and compile accurate and comprehensive summary notes

7. Draft correspondence including investigation invitations, outcome letters, warnings and appeal documentation

8. Support managers in resolving workplace conflict through informal resolution and mediation where appropriate

9. Advise on employment legislation and ensure HR policies are applied consistently

10. Work closely with HR Business Partners on complex or high-risk employee relations matters

11. Provide advice on organisational change including restructures, redeployment, redundancy and TUPE where appropriate

12. Analyse employee relations trends and management information, identifying themes and recommending improvements

13. Where required support training delivery in relation to relevant employee relations policies and processes

14. Undertake job evaluation assessments for new and existing roles, applying the organisation's approved job evaluation methodology (HERA) to determine appropriate grading.

15. Take a lead in reviewing and developing HR policies and procedures to ensure legislative compliance and best practice

16. Support the implementation of HR projects and organisational change initiatives

17. Develop guidance notes, toolkits and manager resources

18. Work collaboratively with trade union representatives and employee representatives where appropriate

19. Maintain accurate records on the HR system and ensure confidentiality of employee information

20. Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes and employee experience

21. Undertake CPD to maintain current knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice

22. Carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

23. Ensure a safe working environment and abide by University health and safety policies and practices and to observe the University's Equal Opportunities policy and Dignity at Work policy at all times.

24. Ensure and maintain integrity and confidentiality of data and associated data protection requirements in line with statutory and corporate requirements

25. Awareness of environmental and sustainability issues and a commitment to the University's associated strategy with respect to the performance / delivery of key responsibilities of the role.

What you'll bring to the role

• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law
• Significant experience managing a broad employee relations caseload
• Excellent judgement, influencing skills and the ability to coach managers
• Confident drafting skills - letters, reports, investigation summaries, outcome letters
• Ability to interpret legislation and apply policy pragmatically
• Experience conducting or supporting investigations
• Resilience, calmness under pressure and a solutions‑focused mindset
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and freedom of speech within the law
• Professional HR qualifications (CIPD) and ideally mediation/conflict resolution training

The Legal Bit

If you are successful, Protocol is required to see evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.