HR Advisor

VolkerWessels UK; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company in Tonbridge is looking for a proactive HR Advisor to join their team on a fixed-term basis. This role involves supporting HR practices, managing employee relations, and contributing to cultural integration. The ideal candidate will have experience in UK employment law and be skilled in communication and organisation, making a significant impact in a changing environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave plus additional day for birthday

Private medical care

Pension

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Vouchers and discounts

Family friendly policies

Employee Assistance programme

24/7 Virtual GP service

Qualifications

• Experienced HR professional with strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Proven ability to manage HR issues with confidence and professionalism.
• Experience in a unionised environment.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-line HR advice on policies and employment law.
• Manage employee relations cases end-to-end.
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding processes.

Skills

Knowledge of UK employment law

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Education

CIPD Level 5 (or working towards)

Tools

MS Office

HR systems

Job description

VolkerRail Major Projects is an expert in collaborative working through joint ventures and alliance schemes. Collaborative working agreements are a proven strategy for delivering large, complex railway projects, and through its strong relationships with other major contractors, VolkerRail Major Projects has helped to deliver several of the biggest rail projects over the last decade.

The SID is a fully integrated team that will bring together the strengths, capabilities, and knowledge of the partners and Network Rail. It will own the renewals work bank, manage it at portfolio level and drive a transition to a production management ethos. The SID is commercially aligned and jointly incentivised creating a 'share in success' environment. Business partners within the alliance will generate profit through performance against the Final Determination. The four partners, VolkerFitzpatrick, Octavius, Atkins, and VolkerRail are aligned to the core asset disciplines with the fifth partner, Network Rail Minor Works, being multi- disciplinary for low complexity, low value works.

We have a great opportunity for a proactive HR Advisor to join the team on a fixed term basis working on SID/SRE at Tonbridge.

This is a dynamic, hands-on generalist role supporting a part of the business that has recently undergone significant change, including a TUPE transfer. The successful candidate will play a key role in embedding consistent HR practices, supporting cultural integration, and helping managers navigate a period of transition with confidence and clarity.

You'll work closely with managers and employees to provide expert advice across the full employee lifecycle, while contributing to the delivery of our wider people strategy. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.

You will be responsible for;

• Providing first-line HR advice on policies, procedures, and employment law.
• Supporting and guide managers with employee relations cases, including absence, grievance, disciplinary, performance, and capability.
• Managing ER cases end-to-end, ensuring accurate documentation and timely resolution.
• Advising on recruitment and selection, including job descriptions, interviews, and offers.
• Overseeing onboarding and offboarding, including inductions and exit interviews.
• Maintaining employee records in line with GDPR and company standards.
• Contributing to HR policy development and implementation.
• Monitoring and report on HR metrics (e.g. absence, turnover, engagement).
• Supporting training and development activity, including needs analysis and evaluation.
• Contributing to HR projects and initiatives such as wellbeing, EDI, and change management.
• Keeping up to date with employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Building strong, effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

About you

We convert About you into a concise description: You will be an experienced HR professional with strong knowledge of UK employment law and a proven ability to manage HR issues with confidence and professionalism. You'll be organised, approachable, and solutions-focused, with excellent communication skills.

• CIPD Level 5 (or working towards).
• Experience of working in a unionised environment.
• Previous experience in a UK-based generalist HR role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting employee relations cases.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and HR systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience of supporting organisational change and TUPE processes.
• Professional, discreet, and resilient.

If your past experience doesn't match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for us.

Why work with us?

VolkerRail is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.

By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerRail are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.

We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.

We offer a range of benefits, including:

• Competitive salary
• Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
• Private medical care
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
• Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
• Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefits
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mental health, physical health, and financial support
• 24/7 Virtual GP service

Fairness, inclusion and respect

We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive. You can read more about our FIR Strategy as well as our partners here Fairness, Inclusion and Respect | VolkerWessels UK

Additional information

Note for Recruitment Agencies:

Our preference is to hire directly, and we will reach out to our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) agencies if this particular role qualifies for release.

We kindly request that you refrain from sending speculative CVs. In the event of speculative CV submissions, no fees will be applicable, and we kindly ask that all inquiries to be directed

VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.