HR Advisor | Hybrid, Schools & Employee Relations in Wakefield

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £29,290k - £32,320 per year

Location: Wakefield, hybrid working

The role of the HR Advisor is to provide comprehensive and professional support through different methods to schools and businesses (including Headteachers, Governors, Directors, School Business Managers and Senior Leaders) on a range of HR issues to support client organisations to achieve their objectives. The role will involve managing a diverse caseload, across all HR strands, including trade union consultation and negotiation. You will be required to advise on disciplinary, sickness, capability and grievance matters and support at hearings as required. The main part of the role will be managing day to day queries with the HR Support Officers and responding to clients in relation to contracts administration and HR issues. As a team we all help to develop the company and so you will be required to help market and develop FusionHR as a brand.

What will you do day to day?

• Deliver generalist and specific HR support and advice to managers of client organisations, providing committed HR advice on matters like health and well-being, recruitment and selection, grievances, conduct and capability, performance and attendance management, organisational change and employee relations.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with clients, colleagues, service areas and union representatives, demonstrating professional credibility.
• Manage a varied caseload of HR cases.
• Work closely with senior colleagues to ensure that all HR programme and processes are implemented and communicated effectively and consistently (including HR Audits, Training, Briefing Sessions, Policy updates etc).
• Support senior colleagues to retain client accounts through the development of strong relationships with the key decision makers and service users within client organisation.
• Ensure that all risks and issues are managed effectively minimising reputational risk.
• Maintain accurate logs of advice given.
• Undertake HR related assignments and projects as identified by senior colleagues that are appropriate to this role and the individual's experience, this may include interim projects on client sites.
• Keep self-updated with changes to employment legislation affecting client organisation.
• Proactively identify target prospective school/business clients and assist in securing new business or retain existing business.
• Assist with the production and development of resources and materials for clients and colleagues which support the HR Consultancy service, ensuring that resources and materials are current, accurate and of high quality so that they contribute to the effective and efficient functioning of the service and meet the needs of customers.
• Undertake general administrative and clerical duties that support the effective and efficient running of the team.
• Provide back-up advice and guidance on all aspects of DBS disclosures and other safeguarding checks, undertaking all relevant administrative tasks relating to processing such checks.
• Draft template letters in relation to any informal/formal meetings relating to ER cases, attending meetings/hearings as deemed necessary.
• Work in conjunction with colleagues in the HR team to effectively hand over relevant cases ensuring a smooth and consistent service is provided.
• Keep professionally up to date with human resource management trends and initiatives locally and nationally, identifying how they may impact on local service requirements and delivery or be utilised to improve efficiency.
• Offer accurate interpretation, advice, application and representation to customers on employment legislation, best practice and policies and procedures in relation to and in the context of customers' policies and procedures on a range of HR matters.
• Undertake visits, where appropriate, to customers to provide support and advice on HR concerns to assist in their resolution.
• Attend and advise at formal meetings, where appropriate in accordance with experience and knowledge.

Requirements

• Education sector experience - desirable but not essential.
• Have experience of providing complex/generalist HR advice to Senior Leaders and working in a highly unionised environment.
• Have knowledge of current HR legislation and developing HR systems and procedures.
• Excellent record of achievement in resolving casework problems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experiential knowledge of working with Trade Unions.
• Experience of policy and procedure development.
• An understanding of local government pay and conditions desirable but not essential.
• Employee relations experience and a full understanding of current employment legislation.
• Be able to demonstrate high levels of resilience when supporting schools with challenging Employee Relations issues.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Have the ability to work as a team or on your own initiative demonstrating good planning skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Previous experience of delivering training.

Qualifications

• CIPD Qualified - Level 5 (or studying towards) or equivalent HR Qualification.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Commitment to own personal & professional development, including maintaining an up to date awareness of HR matters and a working knowledge of employment law.

Benefits

The chance to work alongside a team of hard-working, passionate people in a role where you'll see the impact of your work every day. We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (plus 8 days Bank Hols).
• Your birthday off.
• BUPA Healthcare Cashback plan - following successful completion of probation.
• Pension Scheme.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities - we can offer supported study and potential funding for external qualifications.
• A cracking team to work with!
• Flexible working - we can offer part time or term time hours to suit you and your family.

Interview process

• Phone screen.
• 1st stage.
• 2nd stage.