Senior People Advisor

Newmedica; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Company pension scheme

Discretionary bonus scheme

Free eye tests

Cycle-to-work scheme

Death in service cover

Team building and educational sessions

Learning and development

Friendly multi-disciplinary team

On-site pantries

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Newmedica is seeking a Senior People Advisor for Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds. The role is 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with responsibility for expert employee relations and people management.

You will partner with senior leaders to drive performance, engagement and culture while providing day-to-day HR leadership. The ideal candidate holds CIPD Level 5, with strong UK employment law knowledge and a track record in senior HR advisory roles.

Qualifications

• Qualified CIPD Level 5 and up-to-date UK employment law knowledge.
• Significant experience in a senior HR advisory, HR business partner, or HR management role.
• Proven track record managing complex employee relations end-to-end.
• Experience advising senior leaders on people-related matters.
• Experience leading core HR operations and contributing to organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, legally compliant HR advice to the business.
• Partner with senior leaders and line managers to strengthen performance, capability, engagement and culture, while leading HR operations.
• Lead complex employee relations casework end-to-end (disciplinary, grievance, capability, conduct, absence).
• Support managers to improve people management capability and performance.
• Contribute to or lead organisational change and people initiatives.

Skills

CIPD Level 5

UK employment law

Senior HR advisory

HR business partner

HR management

Complex ER casework

Senior leader advisory

Manager empowerment

HR operations oversight

Organisational change

Pragmatic approach

Integrity & discretion

Resilience under pressure

Forward thinking

Attention to detail

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification

Job description

Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds

Who are we?

Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatients appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.

We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country.

We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues to tell us what it’s like to work here, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third-year running. The feedback has directly contributed to Newmedica being listed among the UK’s top 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2025.

In addition to this, we are pleased to announce that we, in Suffolk, are now a Disability Confident [Level 1] Employer, and we have recently received the EADT Customer Excellence Award™ for 2026 and the Good Health at Work Silver Award.

Role overview

We are looking for a new Senior People Advisor to join our Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds sites. This will be 40 hours over 5 days per week Monday - Friday.

The Senior People Advisor will act as the organisation’s local expert on employee relations and people management, providing high-quality, pragmatic, and legally compliant HR advice. The role will partner closely with senior leaders and line managers to strengthen performance, capability, engagement, and organisational culture, while also providing day-to-day leadership within the HR function.

This is a senior, influential role with significant responsibility for complex casework, people strategy delivery, and the effective running of core HR operations.

What skills and experience do I need?

• CIPD Level 5 qualified (essential)
• Strong, up-to-date working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Significant experience in a senior HR advisory, HR business partner, or HR management role
• Proven track record of managing complex employee relations casework end to end, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, conduct, and absence management
• Experience of advising and influencing senior leaders on people-related matters
• Practical experience supporting managers to improve people management capability and performance
• Experience overseeing or leading core HR operations and ensuring service continuity
• Experience contributing to or leading organisational change or cultural initiatives
• Pragmatic, solutions-focused approach with sound judgement and commercial awareness
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Proactive and forward-thinking, with the confidence to lead rather than react
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining a strategic perspective

What we’re offering

• A starting salary of £45,000.00 (FTE)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an extra day of birthday leave!
• A company pension scheme
• A discretionary bonus scheme, paid on a quarterly basis
• Access to a range of benefits including free eye tests, discounted or free glasses, a free 24/7 well-being/counselling/advice service and a retail/technology discount scheme.
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Death in service cover of 3 x salary
• Monthly all-stop days, with team building and educational sessions included
• An environment where your learning and development is supported through a range of various learning tools, courses and virtual webinars
• Working with a friendly multi-disciplinary team passionate about improving the lives of our patients
• Company-funded staff events
• Fully stocked on-site pantries filled with delicious food and drinks
• A bright, spacious and modern working environment, built to the highest standards
• Discounted gym membership

Please note: All staff are subject to a DBS check. We are unable to offer employment to any candidate whose criminal record may pose a risk to patient safety. We are also unable to offer sponsorship for this position at this time.

Our employment offers are subject to receipt of satisfactory pre-employment checks. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be necessary in the event of a successful application which we will pay for.

At Newmedica, we actively promote diversity and equal opportunities, and we are committed to this in both the running of our services and how we recruit our staff. We actively encourage applications from everyone with the essential requirements of the job, regardless of any protected characteristics.

Newmedica is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all people, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, language, religion, ethnic or social origin