Senior People Advisor

Pitlochry Festival Theatre; Pitlochry; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is seeking a Senior People Advisor to deliver a professional People service, handling employee relations and coaching managers across the organisation.

You will oversee recruitment, onboarding, and HR data, ensuring fair processes and compliant employment practices while supporting the Head of People and Culture in shaping strategy and organisational change.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent HR knowledge.
• Experience in employee relations and policies.
• Experience in theatre/arts or charities is welcome.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations casework from start to finish.
• Advise and coach managers on employment matters.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and probation processes.
• Supervise the People & Recruitment Administrator and HR data systems.
• Produce regular HR reports and support policy development.

Skills

HR generalist

Employment law knowledge

People coaching

HR data reporting

Leadership supervision

Interpersonal communication

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Tools

HRIS systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

Big ambition. Bold theatre. People who make it possible.

We make theatre in the hills with ambitions that reach far beyond them. With Alan Cumming as our Artistic Director, Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a place for imagination, daring ideas and creative possibility.

The part you'll play.

Working closely with our Head of People and Culture, you'll bring sound judgement, practical advice and the confidence to move things forward.

You'll manage routine employee relations casework, help managers navigate people challenges and turn policies into clear, useful guidance. You'll know when to take the lead and when a complex or high-risk matter needs the Head of People and Culture's involvement.

You'll also supervise our People & Recruitment Administrator, oversee our HR system and help strengthen the processes that keep our People service accurate, responsive and dependable.

Help our leaders grow.

You'll support the coaching and development of leaders and managers across Pitlochry Festival Theatre, helping them build confidence, handle difficult conversations and lead their teams well.

Working with the Head of People and Culture, you'll help turn leadership development into practical habits that strengthen performance, trust and our working culture.

From supporting organisational change to turning employee feedback into action, your contribution will reach beyond individual cases. You'll help shape how it feels to work here.

Know your stuff. Bring your spark.

You'll be an experienced HR professional who can build trust, ask good questions and give clear advice - even when the conversation is difficult.

You'll bring strong generalist experience, sound employment law knowledge and confidence managing employee relations independently. You'll be comfortable with HR systems and data, able to supervise others and keen to improve how things work.

CIPD Level 5, or equivalent knowledge gained through relevant experience, is essential. Experience in theatre, the arts or charities would be welcome, but we're equally interested in the perspective you could bring from elsewhere.

Above all, you'll combine professional rigour with warmth, curiosity and a practical instinct for getting things done.

Help write our next chapter.

This is an opportunity to help develop a People service in an organisation where creativity is the day job. There is meaningful work to do, room to contribute your ideas and the chance to see your expertise make a difference.

If you care about helping people do their best work - and like the idea of supporting a theatre with an adventurous spirit - we'd love to hear from you.

The nuts and bolts

Job Title: Senior People Advisor

Department: People and Culture

Responsible To: Head of People and Culture

Salary: Up to £38,000, depending on experience.

Hours: Permanent, full time, 35 hours per week over five days, on an annualised hours basis.

Location: Primarily onsite at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, with some hybrid working by agreement and according to operational needs.

Purpose and Key Accountabilities

The Senior People Advisor delivers a professional, responsive and practical People service across the Theatre. The post-holder manages employee relations casework, advises and coaches managers, oversees recruitment and people operations, and supports the Head of People and Culture make sure the Theatre's employment practices are fair, consistent and legally compliant.

Working closely with the Head of People and Culture, the post-holder supports the delivery of the People strategy, provides regular People data and reporting, and line manages the People and Recruitment Administrator, setting priorities and checking the quality of their work.

Main Responsibilities:

• To manage employee relations casework from start to finish, giving clear advice to managers and making sure processes are fair, well documented and in line with the Theatre's policies and the ACAS Code of Practice.
• To provide practical advice to managers and employees on employment law, the Theatre's policies and good practice, and to coach managers to deal with issues early.
• To oversee recruitment, onboarding, probation, contractual changes and leavers, including the Theatre's seasonal recruitment campaigns, so that roles are filled fairly and in good time.
• To make sure the Theatre meets its employment compliance obligations, including working time, annualised hours, right to work and visa requirements.
• To line manage, supervise and develop the People and Recruitment Administrator, and to oversee the HR system and People data.
• To produce regular HR reports and data, and to support the Head of People and Culture with policy development, the People strategy, organisational change and employee engagement.

Delegated Authority:

The Head of People and Culture retains responsibility for strategic direction, policy approval and decisions involving s