People Advisor – Scotland

RNLI; Perth; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

RNLI in Scotland is seeking a Regional People Adviser to support the Regional People Lead and collaborate with the Volunteer Advisor to deliver a high-quality people service. You will handle HR policy advice, payroll-related queries, recruitment and absence management with accuracy and discretion.

The role covers Scotland with occasional travel, offers hybrid working (at least two days per week at RNLI locations in Scotland) and a collaborative, inclusive culture within the People Team.

Qualifications

• Experience advising managers on HR policy and people management.
• Ability to balance fast-paced operational needs with accuracy.
• Good knowledge of current employment legislation and updates.
• Must be able to travel within Scotland; some travel reimbursed.

Responsibilities

• Provide a highly effective people service to the Region for employees and volunteers as needed.
• Ensure all people transactions are timely, accurate, and professional (pay, policy, absence, health, recruitment).
• Build trusted relationships across the region to resolve people matters quickly.
• Collaborate with Volunteering Adviser and central team to drive policy improvements.
• Maintain People systems and ensure information is accessible and correct.
• Engage in talent development-focused projects.
• Maintain an approach of challenging current practices for improvement.
• Collaborate with colleagues across RNLI to operate as one crew.

Skills

HR advisory

Policy knowledge

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Job description

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-Time

Location: Perth, Scotland

Location description: Hybrid, with at least 2 days per week at any RNLI location in Scotland

Interview location: In-person at RNLI Regional Base Scotland, Perth

Interview date: TBC

Closing Date: 27-08-2026

Reference: 21707

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

Based within Scotland, you will report to the Regional People Lead and work closely with the Volunteer Advisor. Understanding the opportunities within your region, working with the local leadership team and your peers in the wider People Team, you will be responsible for supporting great ‘people’ service and delivery. Whilst most of your work will be based on our valued employees, you will also be expected to support the delivery of voluntary services as required, as some of the work naturally overlaps.

Your role

• To support the Regional People Lead in providing a highly effective people service to the Region, engaging all RNLI people (specifically employees but also supporting volunteers as required) to drive high performance and engagement.
• Ensure all people transactions are timely, accurate and professional, including Pay and Reward, Policy, Sick Absence, Occupational Health and Recruitment.
• Build effective and trusted relationships across the region and ensure all people matters are resolved effectively and speedily to support operational excellence.
• Work with the regional Volunteering Adviser and central team to identify and deliver policy and ways of working changes that drive the professionalism of the people function so that the RNLI is an employer/volunteering organisation of choice.
• Ensure People systems are maintained, and that information is readily available and accurate.
• Project work, with particular focus on talent development.
• Maintain an approach consistent with challenging what we do, how we do it and what we could do better.
• Work closely with centrally located subject matter experts and peers across the wider RNLI – operating as one crew.
• Promote an inclusive and diverse culture across the organisation so that the RNLI is considered to be an employer of choice.

About you

• Experience of providing diverse advice to managers on HR policy and people management issues.
• Experience working with, and delivering against, fast-paced operational needs with a practical approach and the ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Good knowledge and practical application of employment legislation.
• Previous experience of updating policies in line with employment legislation updates.
• This role covers Scotland, and you must be able to travel (not extensively). Any business travel will be reimbursed.
• In other organisations, this role may also be known as: People Adviser, HR Advisor, Human Resources Advisor, HR Adviser, HR Generalist, HR Assistant.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable) and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.