Senior Human Resources Advisor

The Talent World; Basildon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

SYNLAB UK & Ireland is seeking a Senior HR Advisor on a 6-month FTC to join our Essex HR team. You will provide expert HR guidance across the organisation, advising managers and senior stakeholders on employee relations, policy, and organisational change.

This full-time, office-based role requires handling complex casework, coaching managers, and coordinating with Trade Union representatives. Occasional travel to other SYNLAB sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in an HR Advisor/Senior HR Advisor role.
• Experience managing employee relations cases (disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance).
• Experience advising managers on employment law, HR policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Ability to provide clear, practical HR advice to managers.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality HR service across the organisation in partnership with managers and stakeholders.
• Take ownership of a varied caseload including complex employee relations matters.
• Support organisational change, workforce planning, performance, attendance and HR projects.
• Advise and coach managers through disciplinary, grievance, capability and attendance issues.
• Collaborate with Trade Union representatives to support positive employee relations.
• Travel to SYNLAB sites as required and support HR policy development.

Skills

HR advisory experience

Senior HR Advisor experience

Employee relations

HR policy and employment law knowledge

Stakeholder coaching

Education

CIPD Level 5 or above

Graduate CIPD membership

Job description

Job Title: Senior HR Advisor - FTC 6 Months

Location: Basildon, Essex

Salary: £40,000-£45,0000 (FTE)

Job Type: Contract, Full time

About The Role

Job Overview: We're looking for an experienced Senior HR Advisor to join our HR team in Essex, providing expert, pragmatic HR advice across the organisation and acting as a trusted partner to managers and senior stakeholders.

This is a varied and influential generalist HR role, giving you the opportunity to take ownership of complex employee relations matters while also supporting organisational change, workforce planning, performance, attendance and wider people initiatives.

You’ll be a key source of HR expertise within the team, confidently advising and coaching managers through challenging people matters, from complex disciplinary and grievance cases through to capability, absence, restructuring, redundancy and redeployment. You’ll also build strong and constructive relationships with Trade Union representatives and contribute to positive employee relations across the organisation.

Working closely with the Senior HR Manager, you’ll have the autonomy to manage your own workload and caseload, contribute to HR projects and policy development, and step up to provide senior HR support when required.

If you’re ready for a role where your judgement, influence and HR expertise can directly shape how people matters are managed, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a full-time, office-based role working 5 days per week, with the expectation that you will travel to other SYNLAB sites as required. The role offers the opportunity to work across different locations and build relationships with a wide range of managers and stakeholders across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior HR Advisor, you’ll provide a high-quality, comprehensive HR service across the organisation, working closely with managers, senior leaders, employees, HR colleagues and Trade Union representatives.

You’ll take ownership of a varied and often complex caseload, providing trusted advice, professional challenge and practical solutions across:

• Employee Relations - advising and coaching managers through complex disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance, bullying and harassment cases, including formal hearings and appeals.
• Employment Law & Policy - providing expert guidance on employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice to support fair, consistent and well-informed decision-making.
• Organisational Change - supporting managers through restructuring, consultation, redundancy and redeployment processes, while maintaining positive employee and industrial relations.
• Management Support & Coaching - building managers’ confidence and capability through advice, coaching, training and briefing sessions on key HR processes and people management.
• HR Projects & Policy Development - contributing to HR projects and the development and review of employment policies and procedures.
• HR Information & Reporting - analysing HR information to identify trends, support decision-making and improve areas such as performance and sickness absence.
• Partnership Working - developing constructive relationships with managers, senior stakeholders, employees and Trade Union representatives to support effective resolution of people matters.

About You

Essential Criteria

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or above.
• Graduate CIPD membership or higher.
• Significant experience working in an HR Advisor/Senior HR Advisor or equivalent role.
• Substantial experience of managing employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and/or attendance matters.
• Experience of advising managers on the application of employment law, HR policies and procedures.
• Experience of working with and advising managers on complex people issues.
• Current knowledge and understanding of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Demonstrable ability to provide clear, practical and persuasive HR advice to managers.
• Demonstrable ability to manage and prioritise a varied HR caseload with a high degree of autonomy.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in an NHS or healthcare environment.
• Experience of advising managers at formal disciplinary, grievance, capability or attendance hearings.
• Experience of organisational change, including redundancy and/or redeployment.
• Knowledge of Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
• Knowledge of NHS employment policies and procedures

About Us

SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to provide a complete pathology offering.

We operate in increasingly diverse environments which is reflected in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities and partners. We believe an inclusive workplace culture is the best way to source, attract and retain diverse and talented people, and create a sustainable, high-performing workforce.

We believe our staff is vital to the principle of making a positive difference to healthcare, therefore, we promote a culture of continuous personal development where scientists and staff have the support and resources to acquire new skills and build their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching and clear career pathways.

We promote an open and collaborative culture where leaders act as role models and facilitate a two-way communication, engage with staff and stakeholders transparently and actively encourage feedback and suggestions.

Candidates with experience of; Senior HR Business Partner, Senior HRBP, HR Manager, People Manager, Senior HR Generalist, will also be considered for this role.