People Advisor- 12 month Fixed Term Contract

QinetiQ Limited; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 46,350 - 51,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched contribution pension

Generous holiday allowance

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Employee discount portal

Armed Forces Covenant support

Volunteering Opportunities

Job summary

QinetiQ Limited in Farnborough is seeking a People Advisor on a 12-month fixed-term contract to provide expert employee relations and advisory support UK-wide, partnering with People Partners to deliver risk-balanced advice and complex case management.

The role focuses on developing UK People policies, driving change initiatives, and supporting annual processes such as performance reviews, pay progression, and talent management, with a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Expertise in UK employment law and People best practice.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building with senior leaders.
• Skilled coach, mentor and facilitator
• Proven experience managing complex and high-risk employee relations cases.
• Analytical and commercially aware, able to translate people data into actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the resolution of complex and sensitive employee relations cases, ensuring risk management and positive outcomes.
• Coach and advise managers to build leadership capability and support cultural change.
• Drive and implement People projects and change initiatives across business areas.
• Support the delivery of key annual People processes, including performance reviews, pay and progression, talent management and succession planning.
• Partner across People to share best practices and enhance the employee experience.
• Contribute to development and communication of People policies with compliance.

Skills

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

Coaching managers

Policy development

Change management

Data interpretation

Education

Degree-qualified in a relevant field

Job description

Job Title: People Advisor- 12 month Fixed Term Contract

Location: Farnborough, England, United Kingdom

Role Type: Fixed Term – Full Time

Package: £46,350 – £51,500 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role ID: SF20210

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a People Advisor at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As a People Advisor, you will operate as a trusted expert within the UK Advisory Team, providing advanced employee relations and people advisory support across multiple business areas. Working in close partnership with People Partners, the role delivers high-quality, risk-balanced people advice, leads complex case management, and shapes the design and implementation of key People initiatives.

Day-to-day, you’ll support the development of individual UK People policies, playing a key role in implementing the change across the business, and provide People support across a range of projects (within business areas and across the UK market).

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead the resolution of complex and sensitive employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, appeals, and settlement matters, ensuring effective risk management and positive business outcomes
• Coach and advise managers to build leadership capability, manage teams confidently and consistently, and support the delivery of cultural and behavioural change
• Drive and implement People projects and change initiatives across multiple business areas, contributing to wider organisational transformation and development programmes
• Support the successful delivery of key annual People processes, including performance management, salary reviews, pay and progression, talent management, and succession planning
• Partner with colleagues across the People function to share best practice, promote consistency, and enhance the overall employee experience
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and communication of People policies, ensuring compliance with legislation, alignment to business objectives, and stakeholder engagement

Essential experience for the People Advisor:

• Expertise in UK employment law and People best practice, providing pragmatic advice and solutions aligned with legislation, policies, and business objectives
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and gain buy-in from senior leaders across diverse teams
• Skilled coach, mentor, and facilitator, supporting People colleagues and line managers while leading others confidently through change and ambiguity
• Proven experience managing complex and high-risk employee relations cases, applying sound judgement, resilience, and a solutions-focused approach
• Analytical and commercially aware, able to interpret people data, identify trends, and translate insights into meaningful actions and business outcomes
• Demonstrated success contributing to People initiatives and organisational change projects, ensuring effective engagement and successful delivery

Essential qualifications for the People Advisor:

• Degree-qualified in a relevant field

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at our Farnborough site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week.

At our Farnborough site exciting work takes place at our state-of-the-art facility, with high-energy laser technologies, our 5m pressurised wind tunnel which has a simulation capability that is unique in the UK and our large research and development projects is a real hub of creativity, research and innovation. Join our talented teams of Engineers, IT & Cyber Specialists, Project Managers, Group Functions Teams and many more to provide future defences in the UK.

For further information on National Security Vetting, please see the link below.

At QinetiQ we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a diverse mix of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences drives innovation and leads to better outcomes for our people, customers and communities. We encourage applications from all candidates and are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing [e-mail]. One of our recruitment team will contact you.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community