HR Advisor

Michael Page; Essex; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Michael Page seeks an HR Advisor for an Essex-based operation, delivering practical HR support across employee relations, disciplinary and absence cases, and advising managers on policies and best practice within a unionised environment.

You will partner with trade unions and employee forums, support change initiatives, workforce planning, wellbeing, and data analysis to improve outcomes, while ensuring compliance with employment law and internal policies.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an HR Advisor or Senior HR Advisor position.
• Strong employee relations experience with the ability to independently manage complex cases.
• Experience working within a unionised environment and engaging constructively with trade union representatives.
• Background in operational sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, transport, utilities, ports, public sector, housing or similar workforce-heavy environments.
• Confidence influencing and challenging managers at varying levels of seniority.
• A pragmatic, resilient and solutions-focused approach.
• Strong employment law knowledge and the ability to apply this in a practical way.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence cases.
• Coaching and advising managers on HR policies, procedures and best practice.
• Building effective relationships with operational stakeholders across the business.
• Supporting consultation processes, organisational change initiatives and workforce planning activities.
• Working collaboratively with recognised trade union representatives and employee forums.
• Supporting wellbeing, occupational health and absence management processes.
• Assisting with HR projects, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analysing people data and trends to support decision-making and improve employee outcomes.
• Ensuring HR practices remain compliant with employment legislation and internal policies.

Skills

Employee relations

Union engagement

Stakeholder management

Employment law

Communication

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent

Job description

Client Details

Our client is a well-established organisation operating within a large-scale, operational environment with a diverse workforce and significant employee relations activity. The business plays an important role within its sector and offers employees the opportunity to make a genuine impact while working alongside experienced HR professionals and operational leaders. Due to continued growth, they are now seeking a HR Advisor on a permanent basis, who must have experience working within a unionised environment.

Description

Reporting to the HR Operations Manager, the HR Advisor will provide practical and commercially focused HR support across a broad range of employee relations and people matters.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a varied caseload of employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence cases.
• Coaching and advising managers on HR policies, procedures and best practice.
• Building effective relationships with operational stakeholders across the business.
• Supporting consultation processes, organisational change initiatives and workforce planning activities.
• Working collaboratively with recognised trade union representatives and employee forums.
• Supporting wellbeing, occupational health and absence management processes.
• Assisting with HR projects, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analysing people data and trends to support decision-making and improve employee outcomes.
• Ensuring HR practices remain compliant with employment legislation and internal policies.

Profile

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Previous experience in an HR Advisor or Senior HR Advisor position.
• Strong employee relations experience with the ability to independently manage complex cases.
• Experience working within a unionised environment and engaging constructively with trade union representatives.
• A background in operational sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, transport, utilities, ports, public sector, housing or similar workforce-heavy environments.
• Confidence influencing and challenging managers at varying levels of seniority.
• A pragmatic, resilient and solutions-focused approach.
• Strong employment law knowledge and the ability to apply this in a practical way.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience is advantageous.

Job Offer

Opportunity to join a large and complex operational environment.

Exposure to significant employee relations and workforce challenges.

Supportive HR leadership team with opportunities to develop your expertise.

Competitive benefits package.

Long-term career development within a stable and growing organisation.