Senior HR Advisor

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic HR team as a Senior HR Advisor with Reading Borough Council. You'll provide essential HR services, support policies, and collaborate on various HR initiatives. Enjoy a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

On-site nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Previous HR experience is essential.
• Strong customer focus and ability to build relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive HR service and support HR policies.
• Collaborate with HR Services Manager and operational managers.

Skills

Customer Focus

Relationship Building

Job description

Its an exciting time for our HR service, over the last few years we've taken great strides to modernise the HR services provided to our customers, introducing self-service through a state-of-the-art HR System, transforming our resourcing function, delivering a council-wide leadership development programme whilst developing an organisational culture through our Team Reading values.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working; it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel, and you'll have the option to work on a largely remote basis within this role.

About The Role

The Senior HR Advisor is part of a proactive and efficient HR professional team reporting to the HR Services Manager. The role involves providing a comprehensive and quality HR service, supporting the delivery of HR policies, procedures, and systems, and supporting HR interventions aligned with the organisation's HR priorities.

The post holder will support the HR Services Manager and collaborate with Strategic HR & OD Partners to deliver an HR Advisory service to operational managers within the framework of the HR & OD service plan and the People Strategy.

You'll join us on our change journey; we're always looking to improve and provide an HR service that makes a genuine difference to all employees. There will be opportunities to get involved in projects and initiatives and to influence our practices.

You'll be part of a team that relies on everyone to contribute their best. Besides working closely with colleagues daily, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Benefits

Our vision is to ensure Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work, and play, with shared benefits of success. Our values and behaviours guide us:

• Work Together as one team - collaborate with each other and partners, demonstrating the Team Reading values.
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, adapt to change, and suggest improvements. Take responsibility for personal growth.
• Be Ambitious - strive for excellence and engage constructively with leaders.
• Make a Difference to Reading - provide high customer service and be flexible to meet needs.

About You

Previous HR experience is essential. We value a strong customer focus and the ability to build great relationships within a diverse stakeholder group.

Specific Requirements

• Employee Relations casework experience
• Experience in restructuring
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and clients
• Experience working with customers to identify needs and resolve issues without service disruption
• Good knowledge of employment legislation and best practices, including the Employment Rights Act, the Equality Act, TUPE, Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, and ACAS Codes of Practice

Our Offer

We provide a supportive environment to develop your career, encouraging innovation and ambition in a friendly, collaborative setting.

Salary and Benefits

• Generous holiday entitlement: 25 days plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years, with options to buy additional leave
• Flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at Civic Offices, Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• On-site nursery (Kennet Day Nursery), rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan for travel costs
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme for a greener vehicle

For more information, contact Teresa Kaine, HR Services Manager. Closing date: Sunday 26th May 2025. Interviews will be held the week commencing 2nd June 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early once sufficient applications are received. Please apply promptly.

We are a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme. Applicants declaring a disability and meeting the minimum criteria will generally be offered an interview, in line with the scheme's principles.