HR Project Advisor

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 29 days annual leave (pro rata)

LGPS membership

Travel, lifestyle, health & wellbeing

Pay progression + cost-of-living pay

Training and development opportunities

Career development opportunities

Diverse staff networks

Flexible working options

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking an HR Project Advisor to drive key people-related projects and support organisational change. This role offers hybrid working, with delivery across Business Partner (Change) and Advice (Employee Relations) teams, plus engagement with Trade Unions and stakeholders.

You will coordinate change initiatives, provide HR advice to managers, and help analyse workforce data to shape priorities and improve services. A proactive, collaborative approach is essential.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of employment law and HR policy.
• Experience in managing projects from initiation to completion.
• Exceptional communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data to support strategic decisions.
• Track record of stakeholder engagement, including with trade unions.
• Able to work in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating the transactional delivery of organisational change projects.
• Providing professional HR advice to managers and stakeholders.
• Managing smaller-scale HR and employee relations projects.
• Interpreting and analysing workforce data to support evidence-based decisions.
• Collaborating with colleagues to drive continuous improvement in HR services.
• Developing strong, constructive partnerships with Trade Union representatives.
• Contributing to workshops and change initiatives that build managerial confidence.

Skills

Employment law

HR policy

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Communication

Job description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX. Hybrid working
• Salary: £35,570 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. We're a team of dedicated individuals working together to improve lives across our diverse communities.

As our new HR Project Advisor, you'll support the successful delivery of key people-related projects across the organisation, with the opportunity to see the impact of your work on our people and services.

Empower change. Inspire people. Reimagine the possibilities.

About the role

You’ll work flexibly across our Business Partner (Change) and Advice (Employee Relations) teams, supporting and delivering HR projects that contribute to organisational transformation and positive employee experiences.

A key part of your role will be coordinating and advising on the transactional elements of organisational change, including restructures, TUPE transfers and relocations.

You’ll also support corporate learning initiatives, manage smaller HR and employee relations projects, analyse workforce data to help shape priorities, and work with colleagues and stakeholders to continually improve our people practices.

As part of this, your key responsibilities will be:

• Coordinating the transactional delivery of organisational change projects.
• Providing professional HR advice to managers and stakeholders.
• Managing smaller-scale HR and employee relations projects.
• Interpreting and analysing workforce data to support evidence-based decisions.
• Collaborating with colleagues to drive continuous improvement in HR services.
• Developing strong, constructive partnerships with Trade Union representatives.
• Contributing to workshops and change initiatives that build managerial confidence.

What we're looking for

• Solid understanding of employment law and HR policy.
• Experience in managing projects from initiation to completion.
• Exceptional communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data to support strategic decisions.
• Track record of successful stakeholder engagement, including with trade unions.
• Skilled at working in fast-paced environments and managing shifting priorities.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile, please see the 'how to apply' section below.

The Team

The HR and Change team provide a full range of expertise, skills, and experience. The team comprises the following roles: Strategic Partners, Heads of Service, Senior HR Business Partners, Learning and Development Partners, HR Business Partners and HR Advisors. We work collaboratively across all teams in the HR service. While there is service alignment attached to roles, the team operates a flexible approach to their work, supporting each other and the services to deliver across the organisation.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

Please contact either Jocelyn Barber or Siobhan Staniland-Renaut for a casual conversation.

You can contact:

• Jocelyn by either calling 01473 265750 or emailing [e-mail] or
• Siobhan by either calling 01473 264188 or emailing [e-mail]

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 5 October 2026.

Interview date: 14 October 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .