HR Advisor

Colas Ltd; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £35,000-£37,500

Company car / car allowance

Pension up to 10%

Life Assurance 4x salary

25 days annual leave + public holidays

Hybrid working scheme

Family-friendly benefits including mat

Job summary

Colas Ltd is seeking an HR Advisor for the National Highways Area 9 contract to support managers and employees across multiple depots. You will provide expert advice on conduct, performance, absence and grievance matters, managing complex ER cases and investigations to embed effective people management practices.

With a strong focus on employee relations, you will influence managers, ensure policy compliance, and contribute to a safe, productive highway network while upholding health, safety and

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and practical application.
• Experience handling complex, sensitive ER casework in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to advise and coach managers with clarity and impartiality.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification, or working towards it.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for employee relations queries and advise managers.
• Manage end-to-end ER casework including disciplinaries, grievances, capability and attendance.
• Plan and conduct thorough workplace investigations and produce clear reports.
• Analyse trends and support proactive solutions through training and coaching.
• Maintain compliant case records and support HR projects and policy development.

Skills

Employee relations

Casework handling

Investigation

Coaching managers

UK employment law

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential. https://youtu.be/UfW2V6iUHpw

Purpose of the Role

As HR Advisor for our National Highways Area 9 contract, you will play a pivotal role in supporting managers and employees across multiple depots to build a fair, respectful and legally compliant workplace. With a strong focus on employee relations, you will provide expert, pragmatic advice on conduct, performance, absence and grievance matters, manage complex casework and investigations, and help embed effective people management practices. Working closely with operational leaders, you will contribute to a positive culture that supports a safe, productive highway network and reduces organisational risk through early intervention and sound decision-making.

Main Responsibilities

You will act as the first point of contact for employee relations queries, advising managers and employees with clarity and confidence while ensuring consistent application of policies, collective agreements and employment law. The role involves managing end‑to‑end ER casework, including disciplinaries, grievances, capability and attendance matters, as well as planning and carrying out thorough workplace investigations and producing clear, objective reports. You will analyse trends to identify underlying issues, support proactive solutions through training and coaching, and promote early resolution wherever possible. Alongside this, you will build strong relationships with operational managers and wider HR colleagues, support wellbeing and return‑to‑work processes, maintain accurate and compliant case records, contribute to HR projects and policy development, and ensure health, safety, environmental and social value commitments are upheld across your area of responsibility.

Ideal Candidate

You will be an experienced HR professional with a strong background in employee relations, with several years’ experience handling complex, sensitive casework in a fast‑paced environment. You will have a solid working knowledge of UK employment law and the confidence to apply it practically, coupled with excellent judgement, discretion and impartiality. A skilled investigator and trusted advisor, you will be comfortable influencing and coaching managers at all levels, managing competing priorities and producing high‑quality written documentation. CIPD Level 5 qualification, or working towards it, is expected, along with strong organisational skills, IT competence and a genuine commitment to fairness, confidentiality and continuous improvement.

Package Description

• A salary between £35,000 and £37,500 (dependent on experience and qualifications) PLUS Company car/car allowance
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme, which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days of annual leave per year + Public Holidays
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Family-Friendly Benefits, including Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal/professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business.

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice.