Senior People Advisor - 6 month FTC in Brighton

At BrightLocal, we're a people-first business. Our success comes from people having a clear purpose, supportive leadership, and the space to do great work together. This role plays a big part in that. As our Senior People Advisor, you'll be the person managers trust with the situations that matter most and the person their teams are better off with. You'll pair employment law expertise with sound judgment, using both to help managers lead fairly and with care, especially when things get difficult. This role is as much about people as it is about process.

Behind every situation is a manager who wants to do right by their team and an individual who deserves care, and your job is to look after both. We're also a business that's changing quickly in how we work and how we use AI, and that change lands on our people. Part of your job is helping managers and their teams through it well, and every situation is a chance to build their confidence for next time and raise the standard of leadership across the business. You'll report to the Head of People Experience on a small People team, so there's real ownership from the start and room to shape how we do this. You'll build close working relationships with managers right across BrightLocal, from first-time team leads to senior leaders.

What you'll be doing

• Partnering with leaders and teams: Be a trusted, approachable point of contact for leaders and managers, someone they can think out loud with. Support leaders with day-to-day people challenges, including performance and feedback, change, growth, and evolving roles. Provide clear, pragmatic guidance that balances compliance with doing the right thing for people.
• Leading people through the challenging moments: When something isn’t going quite right for a manager or an individual, you're the steady hand who sees it through, fairly and with care. Take each situation from the first conversation to resolution, so no one is left wondering what happens next. Support managers through performance and formal capability processes, keeping fairness at the centre. Handle formal matters through to their outcomes, carefully and fairly. Manage long-term and complex absence with genuine care, including occupational health referrals, phased returns and adjustments. Keep records clear and accurate enough to protect everyone if a case escalates.
• Coach managers through the hard conversations: Prepare managers for the conversations they're dreading, including what they'll actually say. Help them spot issues early, so that informal resolution can work before things escalate. Tell a manager directly when their preferred course of action may not be the right one for the individual or the business.
• Look after the person, not just the process: Make sure anyone in a formal process understands what's happening, what their rights are and what comes next. Hold the balance between what's right for the individual and what's right for the business, and stay honest that the balance isn't always a comfortable one. Signpost wellbeing and mental health support whenever it's relevant, and notice when someone needs it before they ask.
• Keep us consistent and compliant: Keep policies, letters, and process guidance current and genuinely usable. Flag legal risk early, and know which cases we can run ourselves and which need external advice. Track changes in employment law and turn them into practical changes to how we work.

What we're looking for

• Genuinely connects with BrightLocal’s beliefs and brings them to life in their work.
• Is practical, thoughtful, and confident enough to challenge when needed.
• Sound working knowledge of UK employment law, and the judgment to apply it to delicate real situations rather than textbook ones.
• A track record of coaching and influencing managers, including senior ones, and holding your position when challenged.
• Delivery focused: You’re comfortable working with ambiguity and lean on your creative problem-solving skills to generate ideas and move them forward quickly.
• Is comfortable working in change and helping others find clarity.
• Sound handling of confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience in fast-paced, dynamic environments and managing multiple priorities effectively.

Nice to have

• CIPD qualification at any level.
• Experience in a small or growing business, where you've built the process rather than inherited it.

The type of person who thrives here

• Genuinely people-first: you treat each situation as someone's working life, not a task to close out.
• Balanced and fair: you see every angle and stay even-handed, even when it's difficult.
• Honest with care: you don't shy away from the hard message, but you deliver it thoughtfully.
• Trusted quickly: people at every level open up to you and believe you'll handle information and situations well.
• Discreet by instinct: confidentiality isn't a rule you follow; it's simply how you operate.
• Considered but action-led: you understand the grey areas and still help people move forward with confidence.

The Perks (The important details)

• Salary: Competitive
• Hybrid working: 2 days a week in our Brighton office for full-time team members
• Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays + your birthday off
• Duvet days: 3 duvet days per year
• Healthcare: Vitality Healthcare
• Learning & Development: £1,000 per annum personal learning budget

Our commitment to inclusion

At BrightLocal, we believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a team where everyone feels welcome, supported, and able to do their best work. When people feel they belong, great things happen. We strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups in our industry. If this role excites you, but you do not meet every single requirement, we would still love to hear from you. Research shows that some people are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria. Your experience, perspective, and potential matter more than ticking every box. We are open to flexible working arrangements and are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. If you need anything to feel comfortable and confident applying, just let us know. We are here to help.