Senior HR Advisor

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Contributory pension—up to 6% Employer

25 days annual leave pro rata

Job summary

Suffolk Refugee Support in Ipswich is seeking a Senior HR Advisor to act as the in-house HR professional and lead the day-to-day people function. You will manage the full employment lifecycle, ensure safeguarding obligations are met, and provide confident, well-evidenced advice to the Management Team on employee relations matters.

This permanent role offers a competitive salary, a contributory pension, and generous annual leave pro rata, with 35-hour weeks and a 3-month probation period.

Qualifications

• CIPD Associate membership with Level 5 Diploma in People Management or equivalent HR qualification.
• Hands-on experience managing employee relations casework (grievance, disciplinary, capability, sickness).
• Generalist HR experience across full lifecycle from recruitment to exit.
• Knowledge of UK employment law with ability to translate to practical advice.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Experience line managing staff and coaching managers through difficult matters.
• Understanding safeguarding obligations and safe recruitment practices.
• Sound understanding of data protection in HR and handling confidential matters

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day people function and provide well-evidenced advice to the Management Team on employee relations.
• Manage the full employment lifecycle and ensure legal and safeguarding obligations are met.

Skills

CIPD Associate membership Level 5 HR

Employee relations casework

Generalist HR across lifecycle

UK employment law knowledge

HR policies drafting/implementation

Line management / coaching

Safeguarding knowledge in HR

Data protection in HR

Education

CIPD Level 5 HR qualification

Job description

• Suffolk Refugee Support
• Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3EP
• Salary: £37,454 per annum
• Hours: Full time,35 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent subject to a 3-month probation review. Required as soon as possible
• Reference: 0915

Suffolk Refugee Support is looking for a Senior HR Advisor.

The Senior HR Advisor will be our in-house HR professional and lead the day-to-day people function.

You will be responsible for the full employment lifecycle, for helping SRS meet its legal and safeguarding obligations as an employer, and for providing confident, well-evidenced advice to the Management Team on employee relations matters.

What you will need:

• a CIPD Associate membership with a Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, or an equivalent degree-level HR qualification

• demonstrable, hands-on experience of managing employee relations casework, including grievance, disciplinary, capability, performance and sickness absence

• proven generalist HR experience across the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment through to exit

• current, applied knowledge of UK employment law, and the ability to translate it into practical advice for non-specialists

• experience of drafting, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures

• experience of line managing staff and of coaching and supporting other line managers through difficult people matters

• understanding of safeguarding obligations in relation to staff, including safe recruitment practice

• sound understanding of data protection as it applies to employee records and HR processes and a proven track record of handling confidential and sensitive matters with discretion, and the resilience to carry that responsibility.

For the full list of essential criteria see the recruitment pack.

About us

Suffolk Refugee Support aims to enable all asylum seekers and refugees in Suffolk to live integrated, fulfilled and contributing lives in their new communities. We provide a welcoming environment where clients can access help, advice, support and practical services to be healthy and safe and begin to rebuild their lives. We work with external agencies, community and voluntary sector organisations, health providers and others to enable our clients to access a range of support. We are based in Ipswich, but our services operate increasingly across Suffolk as refugees and asylum seekers are housed across the county.

We will offer you:

• competitive salaries

• contributory pension scheme – up to 6% Employer contribution in addition to Employee contribution

• 25 days annual leave pro rata (plus public holidays pro rata).

To find out more

Please read the recruitment pack on our website

For further information, please call 01473 400785.

Closing date: 12 pm, 29 September 2026.

Interview date: 13 October 2026.