HR Advisor: Probation & Employee Relations (Remote 2 days/wk)

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 28 days + 32 after 5 yrs

LGPS pension

Family friendly policies

Employee benefits programme

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking an experienced HR Advisor to join the Human Resources team on a 2-year fixed term contract. You will provide professional, practical HR advice across employee relations, focusing on probation policy and its effective application across services.

You will coach managers, monitor compliance, and support policy development while balancing operational needs with legal requirements.

Qualifications

• Significant experience providing HR advisory support across employee relations.
• Experience supporting probation processes including extensions and outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, policy, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional, accurate and business-focused HR advice across the full range of employee relations matters, including absence, disciplinary, grievance, performance and terms and conditions issues.
• Act as the council's lead advisor on probation management, overseeing the effective application of the probation policy and procedure across all service areas.
• Support, coach and challenge managers to ensure probation reviews are completed on time, concerns are addressed promptly and decisions are robust, evidence-based and compliant with policy.
• Provide risk-assessed recommendations to managers, balancing operational needs, employment legislation, policy requirements and best practice.
• Monitor probation activity, identify areas of non-compliance and work proactively with managers to improve standards and consistency.
• Develop effective working relationships with managers and stakeholders to build confidence and capability in managing probation and employee performance.
• Deliver guidance, coaching sessions, briefings and training to managers on probation management and wider people management practices.
• Support the development, review and continuous improvement of HR policies, procedures and guidance.
• Contribute to wider HR projects, initiatives and organisational change programmes as required.

Skills

HR advisory

Probation management

Employment law

Coaching managers

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

CIPD member or HR qualification

Job description

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking an experienced HR Advisor to join the Human Resources team on a 2-year fixed term contract. You will provide professional, practical HR advice across employee relations, focusing on probation policy and its effective application across services.

You will coach managers, monitor compliance, and support policy development while balancing operational needs with legal requirements.