People Advisor

Oakleaf Partnership; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in early childhood development is seeking a People Advisor to shape their People Strategy. This full-time, permanent role involves hands-on HR functions such as recruitment and employee relations, operating in a hybrid environment with occasional national travel. The ideal candidate carries solid HR experience and is passionate about creating inclusive workplaces.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Workplace pension

Qualifications

• Solid generalist HR experience, ideally as a People Advisor or HR Business Partner.
• Practical knowledge of HR processes and compliance.
• Values-driven approach, commitment to equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver inclusive recruitment processes.
• Oversee staff onboarding and induction across locations.
• Act as the first point of contact for HR queries.
• Support the development of the People Strategy.

Skills

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Organisational skills

Compliance knowledge

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent

Job description

People Advisor

• Circa £40,000 (subject to experience)
• Permanent role
• Hybrid (1 anchor day/week in London office + remote; occasional national travel)
• Full-time, 35 hours/week
• 25 days annual leave + workplace pension

I am delighted to be working with the wonderful Thrive at Five. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation making a lasting impact on early childhood development across the UK.

About Thrive at Five

At Thrive at Five, we believe every child deserves the best start in life, no matter where they are born. Since 2018, we’ve been working collaboratively with communities, funders, schools, health practitioners, and local authorities to develop place-based approaches that improve outcomes for babies and young children.

With active pathfinders in Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar and Cleveland, and a third launching in Scotland, we are expanding our team to meet the needs of a growing and ambitious organisation. As we prepare to scale into Middlesbrough and a second Scottish location by the end of 2025, we are investing in our people and infrastructure to ensure we grow with care, intention, and impact.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to join Thrive at Five and play a pivotal role in shaping our People Strategy as we scale.

As our first in-house People Advisor, you’ll work closely with the Director of Design and Development and our wider team to embed excellent HR practices across the organisation. This is a generalist HR role-you’ll be hands-on in everything from recruitment and onboarding to learning and development, policy design, employee relations, and culture-building.

If you’re excited by the idea of joining a mission-driven organisation during a time of growth-and you’re someone who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments then read further!

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver consistent and inclusive recruitment processes

• Oversee staff onboarding and induction processes across all locations

• Implement and embed Thrive at Five’s competency and development framework

• Scope, coordinate, and manage internal and external training opportunities

• Act as the first point of contact for all HR queries and provide guidance to managers

• Support the development and roll-out of our People Strategy

• Monitor and update HR policies, ensuring alignment with legislation and organisational culture

• Lead on internal communication improvements in partnership with the Communications team

• Manage HR administration, including absence and leave records

• Support the annual staff survey and initiatives to improve staff engagement and wellbeing

• Manage consultants or contractors for specialist projects (e.g. DEI audits)

About You

Essential experience and attributes:

• Solid generalist HR experience, ideally including time in a People Advisor or HR Business Partner role

• Passion for developing inclusive, supportive, and high-performing workplaces

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to build trusted relationships across all levels

• Organised, adaptable, and comfortable working at pace

• Practical knowledge of HR processes, compliance, and best practice

• Experience supporting managers and providing clear, practical advice

• Strong project management skills and attention to detail

• A values-driven approach and commitment to equity, inclusion, and learning

Desirable (but not essential):

• CIPD qualification or equivalent

• Experience working in a growing charity or not-for-profit organisation

Please note: Appointment is subject to a DBS check.