Specialists

Central Bedfordshire College; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

People’s Pension

Retail and leisure discounts

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Bedford College Group is seeking a Senior HR Advisor to join the HR department and partner with managers on employee relations, capability and performance issues. You will use data to drive workforce improvements and support cross-team projects while upholding safeguarding and health & safety standards.

Ideal candidates will have CIPD Level 5, strong ER experience, knowledge of employment law, and proficient HR systems with excellent communication and coaching abilities.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or working towards it.
• Strong Employee Relations experience and knowledge of employment law.
• Understanding of HR best practice and data protection principles.

Responsibilities

• Partner with managers to provide expert HR advice on employee relations matters (probation, performance, disciplinary, grievance and absence).
• Coach and support managers to build capability, resolve issues, and promote a positive culture.
• Use data and insights to identify trends and improve workforce performance and colleague experience.
• Collaborate across the People Team to deliver HR initiatives and processes.
• Ensure HR activities comply with safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and health & safety standards.

Skills

Communication

Coaching

Relationship building

HR systems

Education

CIPD Level 5

Tools

MS Office

HR systems

Job description

Location: Dunstable Campus

Location: Bedfordshire

Salary: £30,915 - £41,085

Expires: 01/09/2026 23:59

Role

Senior HR Advisor

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £30,915 and £41,085 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s Pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours, 52 weeks

Contract Type

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About The Role

We are currently seeking a Senior HR Advisor to join our HR department at The Bedford College Group.

• Partner with managers to provide expert HR advice on employee relations matters, including probation, performance, disciplinary, grievance and absence management.
• Coach and support managers to build capability, resolve workplace issues effectively, and promote a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Use people data and insights to identify trends, inform interventions, and improve workforce performance, retention and colleague experience.
• Collaborate across the People Team to deliver HR initiatives, knowledge-sharing, key operational processes and wider organisational culture projects.
• Ensure HR activities are managed fairly, consistently and compliantly, while upholding safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and professional development standards.

About You

• CIPD Level 5 qualified (or working towards), with strong Employee Relations experience and a sound understanding of employment law, HR best practice and data protection principles.
• Proven experience in HR advisory/business partnering roles, supporting managers with complex ER casework and using data to drive workforce improvements and decision-making.
• Strong communication, coaching and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, deliver manager training and work collaboratively across teams.
• Excellent problem-solving, organisational and risk-management abilities, with a calm, empathetic approach to handling sensitive and complex people matters.
• Proficient in HR systems and Microsoft Office, committed to continuous improvement, and able to work flexibly across campuses while upholding safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and health and safety standards.

Interviews To Be Held

W/c 14/09/2026

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire:Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College andTreshamCollegein the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough;ShuttleworthCollege,a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for MotorsportalongsideSilverstonerace circuit.To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy. Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.

Terms and Conditions - BCPS

• 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• 27 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays
• Peoples Pension
• Retail and leisure discounts