At a Glance
- Tasks: Support major organisational change and transformation in a dynamic higher education setting.
- Company: Join a leading higher education organisation driving impactful change.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, hands-on experience, and exposure to high-profile projects.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transformation with real responsibility and autonomy.
- Qualifications: Experience in change management and strong knowledge of UK employment law required.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: UK (Hybrid)
Contract: Fixed-term (approx. 6 months)
The opportunity: We are recruiting three HR Change Advisers to join a dedicated HR Change team delivering a large-scale transformation programme across a complex higher education organisation. These roles report directly into the HR Change Manager and are critical to supporting multiple, concurrent change programmes, including a major Professional Services and Schools transformation. This is not a generalist HR advisory role. It is a hands-on change and transformation position requiring strong employment law knowledge, confidence in consultation settings, and the ability to operate independently from day one.
What you’ll be doing: You will work at the heart of organisational change activity, supporting leaders through design, consultation, and implementation phases. Key responsibilities include:
- Heavy involvement in formal consultation meetings, providing clear, confident advice on employment law, process, and people impacts
- Preparing thoroughly for each consultation, understanding individual impacts, ringfencing arrangements, and proposed structures in advance
- Responding to employee questions during consultation meetings
- Supporting multiple change programmes simultaneously, tracking progress, upcoming phases, risks, and dependencies
- Drafting and quality-assuring critical documentation ahead of each phase, including:
- Consultation documents
- Equality Impact Assessments
- Structure charts and role mapping
- Business cases for senior leadership approval
- Preparing interview assessment materials
- Advising on selection processes
- Sitting on interview panels where required
- Supporting the preparation of redundancy calculations and settlement agreements, including mutually agreed terminations
- Collating and checking change data, working closely with HR Change Coordinators to ensure accuracy and consistency
- Attending trade union meetings alongside senior HR colleagues to build understanding of live issues and concerns
What we’re looking for: This role requires someone who can step in fast, take ownership, and deliver with minimal oversight.
Essential experience:
- Proven experience supporting organisational change and transformation programmes
- Strong experience of employee consultation, including restructures and redundancy processes
- Excellent working knowledge of UK employment law in a change context
- Confidence operating in consultation meetings and answering complex HR questions in real time
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing deadlines simultaneously
- Resilience and confidence working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
Highly desirable:
- Experience in Higher Education, with an understanding of Professional Services and Schools structures
- Experience supporting large-scale or multi-programme change
- Experience liaising with trade unions
- CIPD Level 5 (or working towards)
Why this role? Opportunity to work on a major, high-profile transformation. Exposure to complex consultation and implementation activity at scale. Autonomous, trusted role with real responsibility. Collaborative, specialist HR Change environment.
HR Change Advisor employer: Burman Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Burman Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Change Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out before your interview. Research their recent changes, values, and culture. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their transformation journey.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your consultation skills! Since this role involves a lot of interaction with leaders and employees, role-play potential scenarios with a friend or mentor. This will boost your confidence and prepare you for those tricky questions during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of networking. Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn to get insights about the HR Change team. They might share tips that could give you an edge in your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Change Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with organisational change and transformation. We want to see how your skills align with the specific requirements of the HR Change Adviser role.
Showcase Your Employment Law Knowledge: Since this role requires strong employment law knowledge, don’t shy away from mentioning any relevant qualifications or experiences. We’re looking for someone who can confidently navigate consultation settings, so let that shine through!
Be Clear and Concise: When drafting your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate attention to detail, so make sure your documents are well-structured and free of errors. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to produce quality documentation!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Burman Recruitment
✨Know Your Employment Law
Make sure you brush up on UK employment law, especially in the context of change and transformation. Being able to confidently discuss legal implications during consultation meetings will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Prepare for Consultation Scenarios
Anticipate the types of questions and scenarios that may arise during consultation meetings. Practise your responses to complex HR questions so you can answer them with confidence and clarity when it matters most.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Experience
Be ready to share specific examples of your past experiences in supporting organisational change. Highlight how you managed multiple workstreams and dealt with competing deadlines, as this role requires someone who can juggle various tasks effectively.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
Since this role involves drafting critical documentation, emphasise your exceptional attention to detail. Bring examples of documents you've prepared in the past, like consultation papers or equality impact assessments, to showcase your skills.