Human Resources Advisor

Dulwich College; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday

Generous pension scheme

Warm community environment

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution is seeking a Human Resources Advisor to join their HR team. The role involves providing HR advice, managing employee relations, supporting recruitment processes, and conducting inductions. The successful candidate will be required to build relationships with senior managers and navigate HR challenges effectively. The position is full-time, offering a dynamic work environment focused on professional development and community engagement. Join a team that values purpose, joy, and kindness.

Qualifications

• Experience in a generalist HR role.
• Knowledge of employment legislation and best practices.
• Ability to conduct inductions and manage appraisal processes.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a visible presence with stakeholders providing HR advice.
• Advise on sensitive HR issues and manage investigations.
• Support the recruitment process and prepare job descriptions.
• Conduct exit interviews and identify recurring themes.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to manage change

Coaching managers

Stakeholder management

Job description

Human Resources Advisor – Dulwich College

Apply to join the Human Resources Advisor role at Dulwich College.

About the Role

This is a great opportunity to join our busy HR team on their change journey, as they grow from a strong delivery function to one that is also seen as a true partner by managers and leaders across the College. Unusually we have a large operational, non-teaching team due to our size and commercial ventures, which makes for an interesting role bridging the education and commercial sectors.

This role is a generalist HR position and will suit a strong communicator, who is comfortable with change and turning ideas into action.

Tasks and Duties

HR Advice

• Maintain a consistent and visible presence with stakeholders providing focused advice and support.
• Develop strong relationships with senior managers and leaders to understand their work, and their teams, and provide effective HR solutions.
• Advise managers and staff on terms and conditions, policies, employment law, and best practices.
• Build relationships with staff at all levels, offering guidance on HR issues while gaining insight into employee perspectives.
• Take responsibility for HR policy implementation, ensuring timely resolution of HR issues and queries.
• Coach managers on handling employee situations, helping them make informed decisions and navigate challenging conversations confidently.

Employee Relations (ER)

• Ensure compliance with all employment legislation.
• Advise and support managers on sensitive, complex and sometimes contentious HR issues, in consultation with the Head of HR.
• Manage disciplinary, grievance, and appeal cases, including all administration, with Head of HR approval.
• Support investigations, prepare for confidential meetings and hearings, attending as needed.
• Accurately record HR case details (e.g., minutes, emails, witness statements).
• Implement structural changes with the Head of HR, ensuring legal compliance and respect of those impacted.
• Work with managers to monitor and manage sickness absence effectively and proactively.

Central Register

• Take on a specified role in the SCR process, reviewing applications and pre-employment checks (references, right to work in the UK etc), ensuring accuracy.
• Provide guidance on handling anomalies or unusual situations to maintain compliance with SCR requirements.
• Support the HR team during busy periods or absences by completing additional pre-joiner and SCR checks as needed.

Learning & Development

• Conduct inductions for new staff, with a focus on those in management roles or new to the education sector.
• Lead the appraisal process within assigned teams and coordinate related documentation, with assistance from the HR Assistant.
• Analyse appraisal feedback to identify themes and training needs, and recommend solutions to address them, implementing agreed actions with the Head of HR.
• Support managers in team development through on-the-job learning and external training opportunities.
• Coordinate with training providers to source or design, and manage training programs.

Recruitment

• Collaborate with recruiting managers to prepare job descriptions, job adverts and the candidate attraction plan.
• Work with recruiting managers to design a fair, unbiased selection process that aligns with the role’s needs, participating on interview panels as needed.
• During busy periods or team absences, assist with scheduling and organizing interviews, liaising with candidates.
• Work with our HR Assistant to ensure prompt, efficient, and welcoming communication with candidates.

Administration

• Support the HR Assistant with administrative tasks, such as changes to terms and conditions, leavers, and maternity.
• Prepare letters and other HR documentation as needed.
• Ensure the HR pages on the College’s intranet and website are current and relevant.
• Prepare and report HR data for internal management and external compliance purposes.
• Foster strong communication and feedback channels with staff through various mechanisms, such as employee surveys, to enhance employee engagement.
• Conduct exit interviews, identify recurring themes, and address findings with managers and the HR team.
• Contribute to HR projects as assigned by the Head of HR.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, recommend changes, and implement them with the Head of HR’s approval.
• Benchmark salaries against internal peers and market rates, recommending adjustments as needed.
• Pursue ongoing professional development through training and self- directed learning.
• Take on additional tasks as reasonably requested by the Head of HR.

How to Apply

Further details about the role including the person specification can be found on our website.

Closing Date: 12 January 2026

Full time, 37.5 hours per week, all year round

Why Dulwich College?

We offer the traditional benefits of generous holiday, generous pension scheme... and we also offer you the warmth of a community that values purpose, joy and kindness.

Please note

Recruitment into education is heavily regulated and our application forms are designed to meet our safeguarding obligations. We suggest that you have to hand your work history dates and explanations for any gaps before you start the process.