Senior HR Advisor

Essex County Council; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in the UK is seeking a Senior HR Advisor for a temporary two-month contract. The role involves providing first-line HR advice, supporting employee relations, and maintaining staff records. Ideal candidates will be CIPD qualified at Level 5 and have strong knowledge of UK employment law. The position offers a chance to work within a friendly HR department while being part of a unique district that balances coastal living with easy access to London.

Qualifications

• Ideally CIPD qualified at Level 5 (or working towards) and have public sector work experience.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert first-line HR advice on employee relations cases.
• Build credibility and trust across organizational levels.
• Support recruitment and selection processes.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Data management

Change management

Education

CIPD Level 5 (or working towards)

Job description

Senior HR Advisor

Maldon District Council

Temporary, Full Time

£31.42 ph umbrella

Location: Maldon

Closing Date: 30 January 2026

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Maldon District Council to recruit a temporary (Senior) HR Advisor for a 2-month temporary contract.

Please note that this role will require you to be based on site 2 days per week in the council offices.

Why Maldon?

Maldon District is a unique place to both work and live; a combination of a coastal location and easy access to London presents the best of both worlds to those seeking a real work life balance. The district offers a wide range of properties from period country cottages through to brand new executive homes.

The role:

Maldon District Council are facing a busy time and require additional support in their small and friendly HR department.

• Provide expert, first-line HR advice and demonstrable experience in supporting or managing a range of employee relations cases (., disciplinaries, grievances, absence, conduct), via thorough Policy application and promotion of consistency and fairness
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the proven ability to build credibility and trust at all organisational levels
• Proficient in using data to maintain records on staff records
• Confident when dealing with all levels of stakeholders in the Council
• Understanding of change management within a HR setting
• Provide advice and guidance on recruitment and selection, assisting colleagues and Line Managers to ensure this is delivered within the standards required
• Familiar with Safeguarding and the DBS process for current and prospective employees (ideal)
• Support strategic HR initiatives and business projects, including organisational change Contribute proactively to continuous improvement of HR systems and processes to enhance efficiency and the overall employee experience
• Build trusted, professional working relationships across the business through confident and supportive communication

What we’re looking for:

The post holder will ideally be CIPD qualified at Level 5 (or working towards) and have public sector work experience

• Familiar with Employment legislation and dealing with complex casework
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice

Maldon District Council are proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please