Human Resources Consultant

Browne Jacobson LLP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing initiatives

Enhanced parental leave

Flexible working

Job summary

Browne Jacobson LLP in Manchester is seeking an HR Consultant to provide pragmatic HR advice and support to schools and academies. You will work with a team of education specialists and build strong client relationships while delivering sector-focused guidance in line with policy and employment law.

This client-facing role is based in our Manchester office, reporting to the Senior HR Consultant, with a flexible and hybrid working model and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Associate CIPD qualification (or equivalent) and up-to-date HR best practice knowledge.
• Experience managing complex and contentious HR casework including discipline, grievance, capability, and harassment.
• Experience acting as a trusted adviser to key stakeholders and negotiating with trade unions is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide solution-focused, pragmatic HR advisory services to clients on complex employee relations issues.
• Lead on ad-hoc HR projects, including investigations, training delivery, and preparing precedent documentation.
• Build trusted adviser relationships with clients and identify opportunities for extended HR services.

Skills

HR advisory

Communication

Influencing

Persuasion

Education

CIPD qualification (Associate)

Job description

We're looking for a talented HR Consultant to provide client-focused, pragmatic HR advice and support to schools and academies across the education sector.

The role

As an HR Consultant, you'll deliver comprehensive and pragmatic HR advice and support to schools and academies in line with their specific policies, procedures, and legal requirements. You'll be joining a team of legal and HR specialists with a wealth of education knowledge and experience, consistently featured in Band One of the Legal 500 and Chambers UK listings. You'll build excellent relationships with clients at all levels, striving to deliver pragmatic, sector-orientated advice that is carefully aligned to clients' interests and at the forefront of national best practice.

This is a client-facing, fee-earning role within a professional services environment, based in our Manchester office, reporting to the Senior HR Consultant.

What you'll be doing

• Providing a solution-focused, pragmatic HR advisory service to clients on the full range of complex employee relations issues, including leading on complex casework and the provision of telephone and email support.
• Leading on ad-hoc client projects covering the full scope of generalist HR (including investigations of all types), creating and delivering training to clients, and preparing new precedent documentation in response to changes in legislation and sector direction.
• Building and engendering trusted adviser relationships with allocated clients, leading annual renewal conversations for HR services, and maximising new business opportunities for the firm through to successful completion.

What we're looking for

• Associate CIPD qualification (or equivalent), with up-to-date knowledge of HR best practice and a thorough understanding of the practical application of employment law.
• Sound experience of managing complex and contentious HR casework including discipline, grievance, capability, and harassment, with knowledge and experience of working with and negotiating with trade unions being desirable.
• Effective communication, influencing, and persuasion skills, with demonstrable experience of working as a trusted adviser to key organisational stakeholders, and the ability to engender trust and confidence in the provision of advice.

We offer a flexible and hybrid working model. Our comprehensive benefits package includes private medical insurance, pension contributions, an employee assistance programme, and a range of wellbeing initiatives. Enhanced parental leave is also available, reflecting our commitment to supporting you through every stage of your career and life.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we're open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We celebrate diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social economic background or age.

We're a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

Take a look at our candidate interview pack for information about reasonable adjustments, what you can expect during the interview process, and guidance to help you prepare.