Senior HR Advisor

Foot Anstey LLP; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Enhanced parental leave

Wellbeing initiatives

Professional development

Job summary

Foot Anstey LLP in Plymouth is seeking a Senior HR Advisor to add value from day one and help drive a progressive, high-performing people function in a growing national law firm.

You will deliver the HR strategy, provide high-quality advice to employees, and manage employee relations, supporting process improvements and HR projects.

Join a firm committed to collaboration, development, and a culture where everyone belongs.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR/advisory in professional services or law is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices.
• Proactive, solution-focused approach to people issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality HR advice and support to managers and employees.
• Oversee employee relations, including conflict resolution and procedures.
• Support HR projects and improvements to processes and systems.
• Explain policies, assist with performance reviews and parental leave ownership.
• Collaborate with HRBPs to ensure consistent approach and reporting.

Skills

HR advisory

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

Policy interpretation

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

CIPD level 5 or degree in HR

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Are you ready to step into an Senior HR Advisor role where you'll add value from day one and help drive a progressive, high-performing people function in a growing national law firm?

We’re one of the UK’s most forward-thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us, and let’s shape the future together.

Being refreshingly human starts with how we hire. We believe a diverse mix of perspectives makes us stronger - not just as a business, but in creating a culture where we all feel we truly belong and can thrive. That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers and creating fair opportunities for everyone.

We are in a period of exclusive direct sourcing for this role and are not currently accepting applications from recruitment agencies.

The role in 60 seconds

• Team: Human Resources
• Location:Plymouth
• Working Pattern: Full time
• Why this role matters: This pivotal role sits at the heart of our People function, helping to create a positive, high-performing culture while ensuring our people processes enable the firm to achieve its strategic ambitions.

What you’ll do

You’ll be stepping into a role with real scope - and real support. A role where we'll invest in your development. You’ll contribute to the delivery of our HR strategy, providing high-quality service and professional advice to our employees. You’ll play a crucial part in managing employee relations, supporting process improvements, and contributing to various HR projects.

In this role, you’ll:

• Support HR in the provision of a comprehensive and effective HR service for the firm.
• Oversee employee relations, including complex conflict resolution and disciplinary/grievance procedures.
• Demonstrate strong professional credibility and build ongoing relationships as a trusted advisor with managers and leaders.
• Drive core people processes such as ownership of parental leave, probation and performance reviews.
• Coach, challenge and influence managers, providing advice and recommendations on all people related issues.
• Work closely with the People and Reward Manager and HR Business Partners to ensure clear communication, alignment and consistency of approach.
• Deal with first and second level queries from employees regarding general HR and benefits by phone, emailand in person.
• Absence monitoring and contact and liaison with employees on sick leave including arranging meetings and OH referrals.
• Produce reports and management information from the HR Management System and other sources.
• Prepare correspondence on general HR matters such as exit interviews, return to work meetings, and performance meetings.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and company policies.
• Participate in the continuous improvement of HR processes and procedures.

What we’re looking for

We’re seeking an experienced HR professional - someone who thrives in a fast-paced, people-focused environment and brings:

• Proven experience of HR/People Advisor level work ideally within a professional services environment.
• CIPD level 5/degree in Human Resources Management or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practices.
• A solution-focused approach to conflict resolution.
• Proficiency in HR management systems.
• A proactive approach to employee engagement and wellbeing.
• Proven ability to plan and implement projects/initiatives.
• Analytical skills: to quickly evaluate data/situations and reach conclusions.
• Excellent relationship building and influencing skills.
• Ability to work with appropriate attention to detail and high standards, whilst still working at pace.
• Experience of working in a fast‑paced, professional services or legal organisation would be highly desirable.
• And you’ll share our passion for innovation, collaboration, and achieving great things together.

What if I don't tick every box?

We're not box tickers. We appreciate the need for everyone to find a role that challenges them and gives them room for growth.

If you bring transferable skills and a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you. If this role excites you and you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply.

Join a seriously ambitious firm

At Foot Anstey, we’re committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and society. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens up opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving startups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training – whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

Progressive benefits tailored to you

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth and personal wellbeing, including:

• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., mental health support, gym memberships).

Let’s make your next career move the start of something extraordinary.

Demographic Questions

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we invite applicants to complete optional demographic questions. Any information you choose to share will be anonymised and not linked to your application.

For applicants in Northern Ireland: To meet our obligations under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998, we monitor community background and sex to promote equality of opportunity. While you’re not required to answer these questions, we encourage you to do so. Your responses will be used anonymously for reporting to the Equality Commission and will not influence any recruitment or employment decisions.

Community Background: In Northern Ireland, individuals are often perceived as belonging to either the Protestant or Roman Catholic communities, regardless of religious practice. If this section is left blank, we may use the residuary method to determine community background based on the personal information in your application.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at our firm – click here

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