HR Advisor

Gloucestershire County Council; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking experienced HR Advisers for fixed-term contracts focusing on pay and reward practices. The roles include significant responsibilities in managing employee relations, leading consultations, and ensuring compliance with employment legislation. Ideal candidates will have a CIPD qualification and a strong background in strategic HR initiatives. The positions offer hybrid working arrangements and various benefits supporting work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible and agile working opportunities

25.5 days annual leave, rising to 30.5 days

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in organisational change management, including restructures and TUPE transfers.
• Proven track record in leading consultations with trade unions and stakeholder groups.
• Sound understanding of employment law relating to organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support pay and reward initiatives aligned with organisational objectives.
• Manage consultation processes with key stakeholders including trade unions.
• Provide expert guidance on employment terms and conditions.

Skills

Experience in pay and reward practices

Stakeholder engagement skills

Analytical and problem-solving abilities

Excellent communication

Education

CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above)

Job description

Pay & Reward

• Lead and support pay and reward initiatives that align with organisational objectives and industry best practice
• Develop, review, and implement HR policies to ensure legal compliance and operational efficiency
• Manage consultation processes with key stakeholders including trade unions and employee groups
• Provide expert guidance on employment terms and conditions across multiple frameworks including Soulbury, Teachers, Green Book, and Grey Book
• Ensure HR procedures comply with current employment legislation and sector-specific guidance
• Support job evaluation processes and grading reviews
• Contribute to strategic workforce planning and reward benchmarking activities

Employee Relations

• Lead and support organisational change management projects, including restructures, service redesigns, and transformation initiatives
• Manage TUPE transfers and provide expert advice on complex transfer situations
• Facilitate consultation processes with trade unions and staff representatives on change programmes
• Develop and implement change management strategies that minimise disruption and support staff wellbeing
• Provide guidance on restructuring processes, including redundancy, redeployment, and ring-fencing arrangements
• Handle complex employee relations casework (approximately 10% of the role), including disciplinary, grievance, and capability matters
• Ensure organisational change complies with employment legislation and best practice
• Support managers through change processes with coaching, guidance, and practical tools

We are seeking experienced and proactive HR Advisers to join our HR team on fixed-term contracts. We have three exciting opportunities available, focusing on pay and reward practices and policy development.

Qualifications

• Experience in pay and reward practices and policy development
• Proven track record in leading consultations with trade unions and stakeholder groups
• Knowledge of local government pay frameworks (Green Book, Grey Book, Soulbury, Teachers)
• Experience in job evaluation and grading processes
• Significant experience in organisational change management, including restructures and TUPE transfers
• Proven ability to manage complex change programmes from inception to completion
• Experience in consultation processes, ideally working with trade unions
• Sound understanding of employment law relating to organisational change, redundancy, and TUPE
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage complex projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
• Confident in providing professional advice and challenging to senior stakeholders

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

Legal Requirements

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.

Positions

• 12-month Fixed Term - Pay & Reward (Secondment Cover) - 37 Hours per week
• 12-month Fixed Term - Employee Relations (Secondment Cover) - 37 Hours per week
• 9-month Fixed Term - Pay & Reward (Absence Cover) - 26 Hours per week (pro rata)

These roles offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to strategic HR initiatives and deliver significant value across our diverse workforce. This is a career grade position at Grade 8/9. Your starting salary will be determined by relevant experience and qualifications. We welcome applications from candidates who meet either the Grade 8 or Grade 9 criteria within the role profile.

Benefits

• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service
• Option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Family friendly employer offering benefits to help support you and your family
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone.
• An in-house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Gloucestershire Salary Sacrifice Green Car Scheme (T&Cs apply)
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) network and the Young Employees Network