Senior HR Advisor, hireful

Guardian Jobs; Much Hadham; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days + BHs

Pension with employer contributions

Life Assurance

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

On-site parking

Enhanced DBS

Recommend a Friend £1000

Learning & development

Job summary

Guardian Jobs is seeking a Senior HR Advisor for a charity in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. This on-site, full-time role focuses on complex employee relations, coaching managers and ensuring lawful, practical HR practice.

You’ll advise senior leaders, handle disciplinary, grievances and absence, support investigations and contribute to policy development and People initiatives. CIPD Level 5+ and ER experience are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Significant ER experience and complex case management.
• Ability to coach managers and influence decisions.
• Up-to-date employment law knowledge and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex ER matters including disciplinary, grievance and absence.
• Support investigations, hearings and formal processes.
• Coach managers to effectively manage their people.
• Contribute to organisational change, policy development and people initiatives.
• Use workforce data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

Skills

ER management

Coaching managers

Stakeholder management

Employment law

Education

CIPD Level 5 or above

Tools

iTrent

Job description

Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

Salary: £47,985 – £49,001 per annum

Contract: Full-time | Permanent

Working arrangements: On-site, Monday-Friday

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, our client would love to talk…

This isn't a hybrid role – and here's why: You'll be based with our client on-site in Much Hadham, Monday to Friday. Our client knows 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 our client doesn't just want you to manage cases – they 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.

You’ll also work beyond day-to-day ER, contributing to organisational change, workforce insights, policy development, manager training and wider People initiatives.

About The Organisation

Set within extensive grounds in the Hertfordshire countryside, our client is a specialist charity supporting children, young people and adults with epilepsy and other complex needs. Their 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 they do is underpinned by their core values, built around ambition, collaboration, positivity and compassion.

What You'll Be Doing

• As their Senior HR Advisor, you'll provide trusted, professional advice to managers and senior leaders across the organisation.


• 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 the 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 Our Client?

Our client isn't going to pretend HR here will always be easy.

They'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 they 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 There

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

Safeguarding & Inclusion

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Our client is proud to be an accredited, people-focused and disability‑inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let them know.

REF‑230 493