HR People Advisor - UKIFS Ltd.

STEP; South Wheatley; On-site; GBP 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to pioneering fusion energy. As an HR People Advisor, you will play a vital role in shaping the People Plan, driving initiatives that support a diverse and inclusive workforce. This dynamic position involves collaborating with managers to enhance employee engagement, develop leadership capabilities, and implement effective HR policies. You'll be part of a groundbreaking journey towards sustainable energy solutions, working in a supportive environment that values your contributions and promotes career growth. Embrace this opportunity to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field.

Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Scheme

Corporate Bonus Scheme up to 7%

Flexible Working Options

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous Annual Leave

Career Development Opportunities

Inclusive Culture

Qualifications

• Degree in HRM or equivalent experience required.
• CIPD Level 5 is highly desirable.
• Strong experience in employee relations and HR projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the annual People Plan aligned with UKIFS’s goals.
• Manage informal employee relations cases and provide expert advice.
• Support talent management initiatives and improve team performance.

Skills

HR Analytics

Stakeholder Management

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Time Management

Employee Relations

Recruitment

Policy Development

Change Management

Talent Management

Education

Degree in HRM or related field

CIPD Level 5

Tools

Project Management Tools

Job description

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the development of fusion energy through the design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is in the process of establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy is crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, with expected commercial viability by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims to have a prototype fusion plant operational around 2040. UKIFS will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be part of this groundbreaking journey.

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family-friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive.

Job Description

For more information on UKIFS, visit: UKIFS Recruitment Pack

The salary for this role is £48,376, and onsite working is expected for 3 days each week. We actively support requests for flexible working.

Employees can be based at either of our sites: West Burton, Nottinghamshire or Culham, Oxfordshire.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including DBS checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open-source data.

The Role

As HR People Advisor, you will work closely with the Head of People to develop and deliver the People Plan for UKIFS, supporting the growth of the business, driving the people agenda, and supporting matrixed employees into large UKIFS programmes.

You will be responsible for building and delivering people projects that support UKIFS’s business plans, including change management, organisational design, EDI initiatives, talent management, early careers, and leadership development. You will work with managers to ensure competence and consistency in leading their teams, applying performance management processes.

You will also collaborate with specialists in the People Department to build management capability, talent initiatives, succession planning, and oversee people projects. Operational responsibilities include supporting employee relations, leading people processes such as performance management, onboarding, exit management, recruitment, and handling queries on people policies.

Key Responsibilities

People Planning & Strategy

• Develop and implement the annual People Plan aligned with UKIFS’s goals.
• Benchmark and research best practices to improve HR processes.
• Collaborate with the wider People Team on HR projects.

Employee Relations & Policy Development

• Manage informal employee relations cases, coaching managers and employees.
• Provide expert advice on employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, and absence cases.
• Develop and update HR policies to reflect best practices and compliance.

Talent & Leadership Development

• Support talent management initiatives, including career frameworks and succession planning.
• Partner with managers to build leadership capability and improve team performance.
• Collaborate on early careers programmes, technical competencies, and career pathways.

Employee Engagement & Wellbeing

• Lead engagement and wellbeing surveys, analyze results, and implement action plans.
• Develop wellbeing programmes to foster a motivated workforce.
• Facilitate focus groups and feedback sessions for continuous improvement.

Operational HR Excellence

• Manage HR operations including onboarding, queries, and performance management.
• Provide HR analytics and reports.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, data protection, and organisational policies.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in HRM or related field, or equivalent experience.
• CIPD Level 5 (Higher desirable).
• Experience as an HR Advisor or Junior HRBP.
• Experience managing employee relations cases.
• Experience developing policies and implementing HR projects.
• Proficiency in HR analytics and UK employment law, GDPR.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Organizational and time management abilities.
• Experience in recruitment and full lifecycle.
• Experience in Pay & Reward strategies.

Desirable

• Experience in civil service or regulated environments.
• Proficiency in project management tools.
• HAY job evaluation training or experience in career architecture.

Additional Information

A full list of benefits can be found here.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially from under-represented groups, including women in STEM, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse individuals. Our leadership actively promotes inclusion and diversity.

This role requires completion of an online BPSS, including DBS checks for criminal convictions and open-source data searches.

For overseas applicants or those with recent UK residence, please see: UK criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Note: Vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if filled.