At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide expert HR advice, manage employee relations, and support learning and development initiatives.
- Company: Join a respected professional services organisation with a focus on engagement and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, £3,000 completion bonus, hybrid working, and supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and involvement in organisational change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in HR while developing your skills in a dynamic workplace.
- Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or equivalent, strong UK employment law knowledge, and experience in complex ER matters.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
Contract: Long-term fixed-term maternity cover
Duration: Approximately 12–15 months
Salary: Up to £50,000
Completion bonus: £3,000, subject to completing the contract
Location: Southampton or London
Working pattern: Full time, Monday to Friday
Hybrid working: 60% office attendance and 40% home working
We are partnering with a highly regarded professional services organisation to recruit a commercially astute Senior HR Advisor for a long-term maternity-cover contract. This is a broad and influential position encompassing employee relations, employment law, policy development, learning and development, employee engagement, inclusion and wellbeing. The successful candidate will join an experienced and collegiate HR team during an important period of organisational and cultural development.
The Role
You will provide professional and commercially focused HR advice to senior stakeholders, managers and employees.
Responsibilities
- Managing employee-relations matters from beginning to end
- Advising on performance, capability and probation
- Managing sickness absence and wellbeing-related cases
- Supporting disciplinary and grievance processes
- Advising on flexible-working applications
- Preparing investigation reports and outcome documentation
- Coaching managers through sensitive employee matters
- Maintaining accurate case records
- Encouraging early and effective resolution
- Conducting exit interviews and identifying recurring themes
- Advising managers on policies and people-management frameworks
The ER workload is not exceptionally high volume, but matters can be sensitive, nuanced and commercially significant.
Employment Law and Policy
You will act as a key employment-law and policy specialist within the HR team.
- Monitoring changes to UK employment legislation
- Keeping abreast of relevant case-law developments
- Briefing colleagues and senior stakeholders
- Reviewing and updating existing HR policies
- Drafting new policies and guidance
- Assessing how legislative changes affect wider processes
- Planning policy reviews around implementation dates
- Translating legal requirements into practical business advice
Learning and Development
The role also includes meaningful responsibility for employee and professional development.
- Lead the new-starter induction experience
- Manage trainee and professional qualification processes
- Act as a point of contact for trainees
- Liaise with managers, professional bodies and examination boards
- Coordinate mandatory, compliance and professional training
- Monitor qualification and examination timelines
- Support career-development pathways
- Contribute to the design and delivery of training
Engagement, Inclusion and Wellbeing
Working with the wider HR team and relevant senior sponsors, you will:
- Support employee-engagement initiatives
- Coordinate inclusion and awareness activity
- Assist with wellbeing programmes
- Support an internal Mental Health First Aider network
- Promote positive employee initiatives
- Contribute to wider HR and organisational-development projects
About You
The ideal candidate will have approximately five to six years’ broad HR experience and be able to demonstrate:
- CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience
- Strong and current UK employment-law knowledge
- End-to-end management of sensitive or complex ER matters
- Experience advising senior stakeholders
- Policy drafting and review experience
- Confidence interpreting legislation
- Excellent written communication
- Strong influencing and relationship-building skills
- Experience designing or delivering training
- High levels of discretion and emotional intelligence
- The ability to remain calm in challenging situations
- Sound commercial judgement
- Confidence challenging senior people appropriately
- The ability to work autonomously while seeking input when required
Experience within professional services, legal, accountancy, consultancy, financial services or another complex corporate environment would be advantageous. Candidates who have worked within partnership, matrix or regulated organisations are particularly encouraged to apply.
The Right Approach
The organisation is looking for someone who can listen to a stakeholder’s preferred course of action, assess the risks and return with a balanced recommendation. You will not simply follow an instruction because it came from a senior person, nor apply a process without considering the wider context.
Pragmatic, commercially minded, thoughtful, solutions-focused, confident without being self-important, comfortable challenging constructively, patient during organisational change, able to work effectively with differing views and priorities.
Location
The preferred base is Southampton, with hybrid working available. London-based candidates may also be considered, provided they are comfortable working regularly from the London office and travelling to Southampton approximately once a week. Travel between UK offices will be required.
Why Apply?
- Broad and varied Senior HR Advisor remit
- Meaningful exposure to senior stakeholders
- Lead responsibility for employment law and policy
- Interesting and sensitive ER work
- Involvement in organisational and cultural change
- Responsibility for learning and professional development
- Exposure to engagement, inclusion and wellbeing
- Supportive and experienced HR team
- A substantial completion bonus
- Potential for longer-term opportunity, although this cannot be guaranteed
Applicants must be available to commit to the full fixed-term contract.
HR Advisor (Confidential) employer: C&C Search Ltd
C&C Search is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment in the heart of Central London. With a strong focus on employee growth, generous benefits including private healthcare and a discretionary bonus, and a collaborative team culture, this role as a Data & Reporting Analyst provides the perfect opportunity for data-driven professionals to thrive while enjoying a hybrid working model. Join us to make a meaningful impact within a high-performing investor relations team and engage with senior stakeholders in a fast-paced private equity setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Advisor (Confidential)
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at C&C Search Ltd!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at C&C Search Ltd.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Advisor (Confidential)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at C&C Search Ltd. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to C&C Search Ltd and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at C&C Search Ltd. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to C&C Search Ltd's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at C&C Search Ltd
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with C&C Search Ltd.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at C&C Search Ltd will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact C&C Search Ltd and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
