HR Advisor

Hopwood Hall; Middleton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Hopwood Hall College is seeking a proactive HR Adviser to join the Human Resources team in Middleton on a permanent full-time basis. You will provide HR guidance, support recruitment and onboarding, manage employee relations cases, and advise managers on policy application and best practice.

You will monitor HR data, support organisational change, and maintain confidential records while building strong relationships with staff and managers.

Qualifications

• Has experience working in a generalist HR role.
• Has experience advising managers and supporting employee relations cases.
• Has a good understanding of employment law and HR best practice.
• Can communicate confidently and build positive working relationships.
• Is organised, approachable and able to manage competing priorities.
• Is committed to delivering a professional and responsive HR service.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely advice to managers on the application of HR policies, procedures and employment practices.
• Manage routine and moderately complex employee relations cases, including sickness absence and attendance management; probation; capability and performance management; conduct and disciplinary matters; grievances; flexible working requests; dignity at work concerns; family-friendly leave; reasonable adjustments.
• Attend formal meetings and hearings as the HR representative, advising managers on process and appropriate next steps.
• Support managers to prepare appropriately for formal meetings, including reviewing correspondence, evidence and meeting documentation.
• Produce or quality-check invitations, outcome letters, management guidance and case documentation.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records, including actions, timescales and outcomes.

Skills

Employee relations

Advising managers

HR policies and procedures

Employment law knowledge

Communication

Organisational skills

Job description

HR Advisor

Application Deadline: 23 November 2026

Department: Human Resources

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Middleton

Compensation: BS29 – BS31, £35,178 - £37,424 pa

Description

Put your HR expertise into practice and make a difference!

Are you passionate about HR and enjoy helping managers navigate people challenges?

We're looking for a proactive and approachable HR Adviser to join our team at Hopwood Hall College. From employee relations and recruitment to supporting managers with everyday HR matters, you'll play an important role in delivering a professional, supportive and effective HR service.

• Provide practical HR advice and guidance to managers and employees.
• Manage a range of employee relations cases, including absence, disciplinary, grievance, probation and performance matters.
• Support recruitment, selection and onboarding processes.
• Advise managers on the effective application of HR policies and procedures.
• Support organisational change and consultation processes.
• Monitor HR information, identify issues and contribute to improving our HR services.

• Has experience working in a generalist HR role.
• Has experience advising managers and supporting employee relations cases.
• Has a good understanding of employment law and HR best practice.
• Can communicate confidently and build positive working relationships.
• Is organised, approachable and able to manage competing priorities.
• Is committed to delivering a professional and responsive HR service.

If you're passionate about HR, enjoy helping people and want to develop your career as part of a supportive team, we'd love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

Employee relations and management advice

• Provide timely advice to managers on the application of HR policies, procedures and employment practices.
• Manage routine and moderately complex employee relations cases, including sickness absence and attendance management; probation; capability and performance management; conduct and disciplinary matters; grievances; flexible working requests; dignity at work concerns; family-friendly leave; reasonable adjustments.
• Attend formal meetings and hearings as the HR representative, advising managers on process and appropriate next steps.
• Support managers to prepare appropriately for formal meetings, including reviewing correspondence, evidence and meeting documentation.
• Produce or quality-check invitations, outcome letters, management guidance and case documentation.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records, including actions, timescales and outcomes.
• Monitor active cases and follow up agreed actions to prevent unnecessary delays.
• Identify cases involving significant complexity, legal risk, organisational impact or potential dismissal and elevate these promptly to the HR Business Partner.
• Support the implementation of recommendations arising from occupational health reports, in consultation with managers and the HR Business Partner where necessary.
• Promote early and informal resolution where this is appropriate and consistent with College procedures
• Monitor agency and contractor usage across designated business areas and provide advice to managers on the engagement, extension and management of temporary workers, escalating significant workforce, cost or employment-related risks to the HR Business Partner.

Recruitment and onboarding

• Advise managers on recruitment and selection processes, including job descriptions, person specifications, selection methods and interview arrangements.
• Review recruitment documentation to ensure it is clear, consistent and appropriate.
• Provide HR advice and operational support for recruitment campaigns within designated business areas, particularly for difficult-to-fill or higher-volume vacancies.
• Participate in recruitment panels where appropriate.
• Advise managers on safer recruitment requirements and ensure concerns or exceptions are escalated appropriately.
• Support managers with conditional offers, pre-employment concerns and proposed start dates.
• Work with HR Assistants and recruiting managers to resolve delays affecting appointments or onboarding.
• Monitor the effectiveness of recruitment and onboarding processes within designated business areas, resolving operational issues and escalating recurring or significant concerns to the HR Business Partner.
• Monitor probation review dates and advise managers where reviews, extensions or formal action are required..

Organisational and contractual changes

• Provide operational HR support during restructures, reorganisations and other organisational change processes, working under the guidance of the HR Business Partner on complex or significant change programmes
• Support the HRBP with maintaining and updating the workforce establishment in line with agreed processes
• Provide advice on straightforward contractual changes, including changes to hours, working patterns, roles and reporting arrangements.
• Check that approved changes have the necessary authorisation and supporting documentation before passing them to the HR Assistant for processing.

HR systems, data and reporting

• Maintain accurate employee relations and recruitment records on the HR system and relevant case trackers
• Monitor workforce and employee relations information within designated business areas, identifying recurring issues, trends and matters requiring management action or escalation to the HR Business Partner.
• Undertake regular checks to identify missing, inconsistent or overdue HR information
• Ensure confidentiality and compliance with data protection requirements when creating, storing and sharing employee information

HR policies and management guidance

• Support the review and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidance
• Provide feedback on recurring policy questions, operational difficulties and areas requiring clearer guidance
• Support the HRBP with policy briefings and management training
• Keep up to date with employment law, HR practice, safer recruitment and developments affecting Further Education

Wider team support and personal development

• Respond to queries from staff and managers, forwarding on to other team members as appropriate
• Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge to ensure the College is at the forefront of HR initiatives and good practice through attendance at events, webinars, training, networking and wider reading etc.
• Proactively share knowledge, learning and insights with other members of the HR team.
• Quality-check documentation prepared by HR Assistants where necessary
• Contribute to the continuous process improvement of HR activities and services
• Attend and participate in HR team meetings
• Support College events, induction activities and recruitment events as required
• Any other duties of a similar level of responsibility as required.

Interviews will take place week commencing 30 November 2026