HR ADVISOR

Middlesbrough Limited; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

AV Dawson is seeking an organised HR Advisor to provide operational HR support across the organisation. You will own day-to-day HR processes, handle routine queries, and ensure compliant people management.

The role involves recruitment coordination, employee relations, HR administration and reporting, pay and benefits support, and engagement activities. You will work closely with managers and the HR team to promote best practice, ensure compliance with employment law, and maintain confidential

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 3 in People Practice or working towards the qualification.
• Experience in an HR or people-related role and understanding of UK employment law.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate recruitment campaigns, interviews, and onboarding.
• Provide first-line HR advice and support managers on absence, performance, conduct, and disciplinaries.
• Maintain confidential employee records and HR reporting.
• Support salary reviews, payroll updates, and benefits.
• Coordinate occupational health referrals and compliance records.
• Assist with engagement activities and internal events.

Skills

UK HR knowledge

Communication skills

Organisational skills

MS Office

Education

CIPD Level 3 in People Practice

Working towards CIPD qualification

Tools

Sage HR system

Microsoft Office

Job description

Here at AV Dawson our business is powered by our people and they are key to our success.

Location: Port of Middlesbrough
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

AV Dawson is a multimodal freight logistics and port operator based on the River Tees in Middlesbrough. The firm has an enviable reputation and over 85 years' experience in the Port and Logistics sector. The AV Dawson group is made up of a number of subsidiary businesses including Port of Middlesbrough Limited, AV Dawson Transport Limited, AVD Industrial and Port Services Limited and ships agency Cockfield Knight.

The group employs approximately 200 people across the region and is committed to honouring the past, protecting what we have built and inspiring the next generation. We are looking for an organised, proactive and people-focused HR Advisor to join our team, providing operational HR support across the organisation.

This is a varied, hands-on role offering the opportunity to work closely with employees, managers and the wider HR team. You will take ownership of day-to-day HR processes and routine queries, providing practical advice, ensuring processes run smoothly and supporting consistent people management across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruitment & Onboarding: Coordinate recruitment campaigns, interviews, pre-employment checks, offer documentation and new starter inductions.
• HR Advice & Employee Relations: Act as the first point of contact for routine HR queries, supporting managers with absence, performance, conduct, grievance and disciplinary matters, escalating complex issues where appropriate.
• HR Administration & Reporting: Maintain accurate and confidential employee records, monitor probation reviews, coordinate leaver administration and produce HR reports and management information.
• Pay & Benefits: Support salary reviews, pay changes, employee benefits and payroll updates, ensuring information is accurate and provided within required timescales.
• Occupational Health & Compliance: Coordinate occupational health referrals and follow-up actions, support HR audits and maintain relevant compliance records.
• Engagement & Community: Support employee wellbeing initiatives, community engagement, work experience opportunities and internal events.

You will also work proactively with managers to improve HR processes, promote best practice and ensure compliance with employment legislation, company policies and health and safety requirements.

About You

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• CIPD Level 3 in People Practice, or working towards the qualification.
• Experience in an HR or people-related role, with an understanding of HR processes, employee relations and UK employment legislation.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to support employees and managers.
• Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office, and the ability to learn HR systems such as Sage.
• A professional and discreet approach to handling confidential information.
• Initiative, a practical problem-solving approach and the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team.