Senior HR Advisor

St Elizabeth's Centre; Much Hadham; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave

Pension up to 6%

Life Assurance

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Gym membership discount

Free on-site parking

Fully funded Enhanced DBS

Recommend a Friend £1,000

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

St Elizabeth's Centre in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, is seeking an experienced HR Advisor to take ownership of complex employee relations and coaching managers. This on-site role offers broad influence, challenging cases and a chance to shape people leadership across services.

You will lead on disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence matters, support investigations, and mentor the HR team while working within a values‑driven charity.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent experience.
• Strong HR Advisor/Senior HR Advisor experience.
• Significant employee relations and complex case management experience.
• Up-to-date employment law and HR best-practice knowledge.
• Experience coaching and influencing managers.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• The ability to manage a busy and varied workload.
• Experience of organisational change, mentoring HR colleagues, iTrent or working within education, health, social care or another regulated environment would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex ER matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence.
• Support investigations, hearings and formal processes.
• Coach managers to confidently and effectively manage their people.
• Support organisational change and restructures.
• Support employment‑related legal matters including ACAS, Employment Tribunal cases and Subject Access Requests.
• Use workforce and ER data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to People policies, processes and wider projects.
• Design and deliver practical manager training.
• Coach and mentor our HR Advisor.
• Deputise for the Head of People Relations and Policy when required.

Skills

CIPD Level 5

Senior HR Advisor experience

Employee relations

Employment law

Coaching managers

Stakeholder management

Workload management

Organisational change

Mentoring HR colleagues

iTrent experience

Education

CIPD Level 5 or above

Job description

Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire (SG10 6EW)

Salary: £47,985 – £49,001 per annum

Contract: Full-time | Permanent

Working arrangements: On-site, Monday–Friday

Less HR from a distance. More HR where it actually happens. And when the working day finishes, it finishes.

Maybe you're an experienced HR Advisor ready for your next step. Or perhaps you're already working at Senior HR Advisor level and want more variety, greater influence and the opportunity to genuinely shape how managers lead their people. You know your way around a difficult ER case. You're comfortable having challenging conversations. And you understand that great HR is about balancing legislation and process with judgement, relationships and the people involved.

If you're looking for more ownership, more variety and the opportunity to make a visible impact, we'd love to talk…

This isn't a hybrid role – and here's why: You'll be based with us on-site in Much Hadham, Monday to Friday. We know hybrid working has become the norm across HR, but this role offers something different. You'll work alongside the managers you support. You'll understand their services and teams because you'll see them first‑hand. You'll have the quick conversation that prevents something becoming a formal case and build relationships that go beyond a scheduled Teams call.

Why this role is different

There is plenty here to get your teeth into. You'll manage complex employee relations matters, but we don't just want you to manage cases – we want you to help managers become better managers. That means coaching rather than simply telling. Challenging when necessary. Helping managers understand the why, not just the process.

About St Elizabeth's

Set within 60 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, St Elizabeth's is a specialist charity supporting children, young people and adults with epilepsy and other complex needs. Our services span education, children's residential care, adult residential care, supported living and day opportunities – creating a genuinely varied environment for an HR professional. Everything we do is underpinned by our values: Aspirational | Collaborative | Joyful | Compassionate

What you'll be doing

• Lead on complex ER matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence.
• Support investigations, hearings and formal processes.
• Coach managers to confidently and effectively manage their people.
• Support organisational change and restructures.
• Support employment‑related legal matters including ACAS, Employment Tribunal cases and Subject Access Requests.
• Use workforce and ER data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to People policies, processes and wider projects.
• Design and deliver practical manager training.
• Coach and mentor our HR Advisor.
• Deputise for the Head of People Relations and Policy when required.

About you

We're looking for someone who enjoys the judgement and human side of HR – not simply following a process.

• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent experience.
• Strong HR Advisor/Senior HR Advisor experience, with the confidence to operate at senior advisory level.
• Significant employee relations and complex case management experience.
• Up‑to‑date employment law and HR best‑practice knowledge.
• Experience coaching and influencing managers.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
• The ability to manage a busy and varied workload.
• Experience of organisational change, mentoring HR colleagues, iTrent or working within education, health, social care or another regulated environment would be advantageous.

Why join St Elizabeth's?

We're not going to pretend HR here will always be easy. We're a large and diverse organisation supporting people with complex needs, so you'll encounter interesting, challenging and sometimes sensitive people matters. But you'll also have the opportunity to influence managers, improve how we work and see the impact of what you do. You'll also enjoy:

• From 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing with service.
• Contributory pension with up to 6% employer contribution.
• Life Assurance.
• Blue Light Card eligibility.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free on‑site parking.
• Fully funded Enhanced DBS.
• £1,000 Recommend a Friend Scheme for eligible roles.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Getting here

St Elizabeth's Centre is located in a rural setting in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, so access to reliable transport is important. To help make commuting easier, we offer subsidised staff transport routes and affordable on‑site accommodation options.

Safeguarding & Inclusion

St Elizabeth's is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

We are proud to be an Investors in People and Disability Confident employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.