Human Resources Advisor - College

Clarus Education; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

27 days leave + bank holidays

Three Christmas closure days

Professional development

Job summary

Clarus Education in Cambridge and Huntingdon is seeking an experienced Human Resources Advisor to join our friendly HR team. The role focuses on employee relations, recruitment support, policy application, and safeguarding compliance within a busy education setting.

You will advise managers, manage complex casework, and drive workforce initiatives while ensuring confidentiality and professional integrity across the organisation.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualification or equivalent HR qualification.
• Significant experience in an HR advisory or generalist role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Commitment to confidentiality and professional integrity.
• Experience in education/public sector is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Advise and coach managers on employee relations matters, including absence, disciplinary and grievance procedures.
• Manage and support complex employee relations casework.
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding for allocated departments.
• Ensure HR policies are applied consistently and in line with employment legislation.
• Provide guidance on best practice and people-management processes.
• Maintain accurate and confidential HR records.
• Support safeguarding and safer recruitment compliance.
• Contribute to HR projects and staff development initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes and service delivery.
• Build effective working relationships with managers and staff.

Skills

HR advisory

Employee relations

UK employment law

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent HR qualification

Job description

Location: Cambridge, with occasional travel to Huntingdon
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: £36,883–£37,499 per annum

About the organisation

We are a large and inspirational education provider with campuses in Cambridge and Huntingdon. With outstanding teaching and leisure facilities, we have an excellent reputation across a range of specialist areas.

Our modern learning environment is busy, vibrant and collaborative. We are committed to investing in our staff and have been recognised with Investors in People Gold accreditation.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Human Resources Advisor to join our friendly HR team.

Working closely with managers across the organisation, you will provide professional advice and practical support across a broad range of HR matters. You will help deliver an excellent people service, support the organisation’s Workforce Strategy and ensure HR policies and procedures are applied consistently and effectively.

This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys employee relations, stakeholder engagement and contributing to continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Advise and coach managers on employee relations matters, including: Absence management. Disciplinary and grievance procedures. Capability and performance management.
• Manage and support complex employee relations casework.
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding for allocated departments or service areas.
• Ensure HR policies and procedures are applied consistently and in line with employment legislation.
• Provide guidance on best practice and appropriate people-management processes.
• Maintain accurate and confidential HR records.
• Support safeguarding and safer recruitment compliance.
• Contribute to HR projects, staff development activities and workforce initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes and service delivery.
• Build effective working relationships with managers and staff across the organisation.

About you

You will have:

• A CIPD qualification or equivalent HR qualification, knowledge or experience.
• Significant experience working in an HR advisory or generalist role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• A customer-focused, proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Confidence advising managers and challenging appropriately when required.
• A commitment to confidentiality, fairness and professional integrity.

Experience within education, the public sector or another regulated environment would be advantageous.

• Permanent, full-time role with 37 hours per week.
• Salary of £36,883–£37,499 per annum.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with significant employer contributions.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days, plus bank holidays.
• Up to three additional closure days during the Christmas period.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Supportive and friendly HR team.
• Opportunity to contribute to a positive experience for staff and students.
• Modern working environment across Cambridge and Huntingdon.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List information where applicable.

The organisation reserves the right to appoint before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. You will have a safeguarding responsibility if appointed.

The successful candidate will be subject to enhanced clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service and employment will be subject to references.

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.