HR Advisor

Age of Power; Runcorn; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Runcorn is seeking an HR Advisor to join their People & Organisational Performance team. This role involves managing employee relations, recruitment, and performance reviews. The ideal candidate will have experience in HR, a degree in Human Resource Management, and a strong knowledge of employment law. A competitive salary and benefits package is offered, along with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Company pension

UK Healthcare scheme

Life Assurance

25 days holidays plus bank holidays

Bonus scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a similar HR role is essential.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment law.
• Ability to build trust with the workforce.

Responsibilities

• Proactively manage sickness absence through effective case management.
• Manage recruitment end to end.
• Support managers with employee relations issues.
• Assist in the annual performance review process.
• Maintain accurate employee records.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Critical thinking

Decision-making

High attention to detail

IT skills (MS Office)

Education

Degree in Human Resource Management or CIPD qualification

Job description

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen. We specialise in plant‑based oils that are the value‑adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK's offer is Customer Co‑Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant‑based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care.

Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centres, and more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malm, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for more than 150 years.

AAK Runcoun

AAK Runcoun is the home to AAK Foods, a major manufacturer and supplier of sauces, condiments and dressings to the retail and foodservice sectors. Our private label work has won awards for taste and quality, and our products can be found on the shelves of stores throughout the world.

From our site on Davy Road, to the east of the town centre, we work with customers to co‑develop new recipes for grocery private label products, retail restaurants, quick service restaurants, foodservice and food ingredients.

About The Role

We are looking for a HR Advisor to join the People & Organisational Performance team, on a 12-month, fixed term contract. Reporting to the HR Business Partner for Foodservice, you will have a passion HR and a willingness to understand a manufacturing business, whilst demonstrating excellent critical thinking and decision‑making capabilities. This role is based at our Runcorn site but will also provide support to our AAK BD Foods site in Hastings, with travel required approximately 3 x per year.

This is a great opportunity for someone who's been there, done it, and knows their way around employee relations, HR advice, and the day-to‑day of supporting managers and teams.

Main Responsibilities

• Proactively manage sickness absence through effective case management and contribute to strategies to reduce sickness absence
• Manage recruitment end to end, from vacancy approval to issuing of employment contracts
• Support managers with ER issues (disciplinaries, grievances, capability etc)
• Assist in the annual performance review and succession planning process
• Participate in developing organisational guidelines and procedures
• Maintain accurate employee records and provide HR analytics information as required
• Deliver training to boost manager confidence and support successful onboarding
• Act as an ambassador for culture engagement activities

About You

• Experience of working in a similar HR role essential
• A degree in a Human Resource Management or CIPD qualification desirable

Manufacturing Industry Is Preferred But Not Essential

• Up to date knowledge of employment law
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Able to build trust, respect and openness with workforce
• High level IT skills using MS Office Word, Excel, Power Point and outlook

In Return AAK Offer

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Company pension 1% employee, 7% employer
• UK Healthcare scheme, Including Gym & Lifestyle discounts
• Life Assurance
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Bonus scheme
• Investment in training and development
• Onsite parking, free hot drinks, monthly food vans