Human Resources Adviser - Kempston in Wilshamstead

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is entering an exciting period of change as we strengthen our people offer and move towards an HR Business Partnering model. We are looking for an experienced Human Resources Adviser to join our team. You will play a key role in supporting managers and employees by providing professional, consistent and legally compliant HR advice. You will work closely with managers at multiple sites across the county, on a wide range of employee relations matters and with a particular focus on the management of sickness absence cases. You will also contribute to the development, review and implementation of HR policies and procedures, support organisational change initiatives, and help ensure that best practice is applied consistently across the Service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviewing, developing and implementing HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment legislation, best practice and national and local agreements.
• Providing professional HR advice and guidance to managers on sickness absence, attendance and wider employee relations casework, including discipline, grievance, performance and equality issues.
• Providing general HR advice and support on policy and legislation interpretation.
• Managing complex sickness absence cases, including liaison with Occupational Health and supporting the ill-health retirement process where required.
• Supporting organisational change initiatives, including re-organisation and changes to terms and conditions, and advising managers on consultation, redundancy and redeployment.
• Delivering training, advice and guidance to managers on HR policies, procedures and legislative changes.
• Undertaking job evaluation using the Korn Ferry (formerly) HAY system and advise relevant managers and individuals of results.
• Supporting recruitment, promotion and selection processes as required.

About you:

You will be an experienced HR professional with significant employee relations expertise and demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law. You will be confident in advising managers on complex and sensitive casework, supporting fair, consistent and timely outcomes. You will have:

• CIPD level 7 qualification (or equivalent) or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• In-depth HR experience, including policy formulation, organisational change and advising managers.
• Proven knowledge in the field of Employment Law, HR and Employee Relations best practice.
• Evidence of advising managers carrying out formal investigations (e.g. disciplinary, grievance and bullying and harassment) including the production of written investigation reports and attending formal hearings.
• Evidence of excellent communication skills both verbal and written including the ability to train and give presentations to different audience levels and the ability to transform complex information and legislation into Service policies and procedures.
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills and a logical approach.
• Evidence of effective negotiation and influencing skills.
• Full driving licence (manual or automatic) with no pending issues as there is a requirement to travel to different sites across the county.
• Ability to work flexibly, including outside normal working hours when necessary, to support a service that operates at all times.

For more details about the key responsibilities and essential criteria required for the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Next steps:

If this role is of interest, please visit our website for further information and to make a formal application. We ask that you include your full career history and reference your skills and experience in line with the job description and person specification within your application and supporting statement.

Closing date: Thursday 19 March 2026

The selection process will take place on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.

The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.