Senior HR Advisor

Kingston University; Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingston University is seeking a Senior HR Advisor to join the HR Advice & Reward team. You will provide expert HR advice on complex employee relations matters, shape policies, and lead strategic HR projects that enhance workforce practices and the employee experience.

With strong employment law knowledge and a CIPD or equivalent qualification, you will influence senior stakeholders, translate legislation into practical solutions, and drive continuous improvement across the University’s people

Qualifications

• Strong employment law knowledge and professional judgement.
• Experience developing or reviewing HR policies to reflect best practice and legal requirements.
• Ability to translate legislation and organisational requirements into practical solutions.
• Excellent communication, analytical and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic HR advice to managers and senior leaders on complex people matters.
• Lead on HR policy development and review to support an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• Lead complex employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability and sickness absence cases; support ACAS Early Conciliation and ET processes.
• Drive strategic HR projects and organisational change; use HR data to identify trends and inform decisions.
• Support and develop HR colleagues; act as escalation point for complex issues.

Skills

Employment law

Policy development

Strategic HR

Stakeholder management

Employee relations

Leadership

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join Kingston University's HR Advice & Reward team as a Senior HR Advisor, contributing to the University's people agenda through expert HR advice, policy development and the delivery of strategic HR projects.

You will provide pragmatic, solutions-focused advice to managers and senior leaders on complex people matters, using your employment law expertise and professional judgement to balance organisational risk, employee experience and business objectives.

You will lead and contribute to strategic HR projects and organisational change initiatives, driving improvements to HR services, workforce practices and employee experience. You will also take ownership of HR policy development and review, ensuring policies remain legally compliant, reflect best practice and support an inclusive, high-performing culture.

You will lead on complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance and sickness absence cases, as well as supporting ACAS Early Conciliation and Employment Tribunal processes. Using HR data and insights, you will identify trends, address underlying issues and develop proactive solutions that improve organisational effectiveness.

Working collaboratively with stakeholders across faculties and professional services, you will strengthen management capability, influence decision-making and support the continuous improvement of HR services. As a senior member of the team, you will also provide guidance to HR colleagues and act as an escalation point for complex issues.

You will be an experienced HR professional with a strong track record of advising on complex employee relations and employment law matters, alongside experience of leading HR projects, developing or reviewing policies and supporting organisational change.

You will have excellent employment law and HR knowledge, supported by a relevant CIPD, employment law or equivalent qualification, and the ability to translate legislation and organisational requirements into practical, effective solutions.

You will be confident influencing senior stakeholders, managing competing priorities and using HR data to identify trends, evaluate initiatives and inform evidence-based decisions. Excellent communication, analytical and relationship-building skills are essential, alongside a proactive, customer-focused approach, sound judgement and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

You will also demonstrate the ability to support and develop colleagues, remain resilient when managing challenging situations and drive continuous improvement. Higher Education experience is welcomed, but relevant experience in other large or complex organisations will also be considered.

The Human Resources Directorate provides the people strategy, expertise and infrastructure that enables Kingston University to achieve its ambitions.

You will join our experienced HR Advice & Reward team, working alongside HR colleagues across the University to provide both responsive operational support and proactive, strategic people advice.

We work in partnership with academic faculties and professional services to help managers get the best from their people, tackle challenges effectively and create an environment in which our staff can perform, develop and contribute to the University's success.

As a Senior HR Advisor, you will play an important role in developing this partnership, helping us move beyond simply responding to individual HR issues towards earlier intervention, stronger management capability and continuous improvement in our HR service.

This is a full-time, permanent Grade 9 position, salary up to£60,492.

The HR team is based at our Penrhyn Road campus, with colleagues required to travel across the University's campuses according to business needs.

For informal enquiries about the position, please contact Jo Willoughby, Head of HR Advice & [e-mail]