HR Advisor

Northpoint; Dukinfield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Northpoint in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, is seeking an HR Advisor to provide day-to-day HR support across the factory operation. You will manage core people processes, maintain accurate records and systems, and help managers apply policies consistently.

This stand-alone role requires CIPD Level 3 or equivalent knowledge and experience with sickness absence, recruitment administration, and HR reporting.

Qualifications

• Generalist HR experience in a manufacturing or similar setting.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR procedures.
• Experience supporting managers with sickness absence, attendance, performance and conduct.
• Experience maintaining accurate HR records and using an HR information system.
• Strong written communication and organisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Guide managers and employees on HR policies and routine employment matters.
• Support sickness absence, attendance, probation, performance and conduct issues.
• Advise on disciplinary and grievance procedures with documentation and meetings.
• Monitor case progress and escalate as needed to senior management.
• Maintain accurate confidential employee records and HR system data.
• Coordinate recruitment administration, onboarding and agency worker liaison.
• Assist with policy updates, training and HR projects.

Skills

Generalist HR

Employee relations

UK employment law

Payroll coordination

HRIS

Confidentiality

Communication

Education

CIPD Level 3 or higher

Tools

BrightHR

Blip

Job description

Location: Dukinfield, Greater Manchester – on-site

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £35,000–£40,000 per annum, depending on experience

About Northpoint

Established in 1976, Northpoint is an employee-owned business specialising in protective and decorative coatings. From our Dukinfield facility, we provide powder coating and wet paint services for customers across sectors including water, oil and gas, marine, defence and infrastructure.

We take pride in the quality of our work and in understanding what our customers need. Our values include responsible working, fair business practices and opportunities for our people to learn and develop.

Job purpose

To provide day-to-day HR advice and support across Northpoint’s factory operation. The HR Advisor will manage core people processes, maintain accurate HR records and systems, and support managers in applying policies fairly and consistently. You will be the first point of contact for routine HR matters, escalating complex or higher-risk issues to senior management and external HR support.

Key responsibilities

Employee relations and manager support

• Guide managers and employees on HR policies, procedures and routine employment matters
• Support managers with sickness absence, attendance, probation, performance and conduct issues, ensuring meetings, records and follow-up actions are completed
• Advise managers on disciplinary and grievance procedures, including preparing documents, coordinating meetings, taking notes and maintaining case records
• Monitor case progress and identify delays, inconsistencies or matters needing escalation
• Refer complex cases, potential dismissals, discrimination concerns and other significant risks to senior management and external HR support

HR administration and systems

• Maintain accurate, confidential employee records and keep the HR system up to date
• Prepare employment documents from approved templates, including contracts, change letters, probation correspondence and leaver documentation
• Monitor key dates, including probation reviews, training renewals, leave and right-to-work follow-up checks
• Record and review absence and attendance, produce reports and highlight trends or outstanding actions to managers
• Collate and check payroll information, including starters, leavers, contractual changes and absence, by agreed deadlines
• Keep secure records of HR meetings and formal processes

Recruitment, onboarding and agency workers

• Coordinate recruitment administration, including vacancy documentation, interviews, candidate communication and offer paperwork
• Complete pre-employment and right-to-work checks for directly employed staff
• Coordinate onboarding, inductions and offboarding, including documentation and system updates
• Liaise with recruitment agencies on worker supply, onboarding information, site requirements and people-related issues
• Obtain and maintain agreed assurance and records for agency workers, with Northpoint and agency responsibilities clearly documented

Policy and process improvement

• Support consistent application of HR policies and procedures
• Identify gaps in records, processes or manager guidance and recommend improvements
• Assist with policy updates, employee communications, training coordination and HR projects
• Keep up to date with changes in employment practice and refer proposed policy or legal changes for review

Working relationships and decision-making

This is a standalone HR role, with the HR Advisor acting as Northpoint’s main day-to-day HR contact. You will work closely with factory managers, senior management, employees and recruitment agencies, with external HR support for complex or higher-risk matters.

You may manage routine HR processes and give procedural advice within agreed policies. Factory managers remain responsible for managing their teams and operational decisions. Formal employment decisions, including disciplinary outcomes and dismissals, remain with the appropriate Northpoint manager. The escalation and approval process for complex cases will be agreed with senior management and external HR support.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience in a generalist HR role, including practical support with employee relations matters
• CIPD Level 3 or above, progress towards a relevant CIPD qualification, or equivalent demonstrable HR knowledge and experience
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR procedures, with the judgement to recognise when specialist advice is needed
• Experience supporting managers with sickness absence, attendance, performance and conduct processes
• Experience maintaining accurate HR records and using an HR information system
• Strong written communication, organisation and attention to detail
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• Ability to manage competing priorities and build effective relationships at all levels

Desirable

• Experience in manufacturing or another operational, shift-based environment
• Experience coordinating agency workers and liaising with recruitment agencies
• Experience completing right-to-work checks, preparing payroll information and producing HR reports
• Familiarity with BrightHR and Blip, or comparable systems