People & HR Advisor in Devon

Salary: £32,075 - £34,434 per annum (dependent on experience)

Hours: 30 (working pattern to be agreed with successful applicant). Any additional hours worked outside the agreed pattern will be managed by agreement through flexible working arrangements or time off in lieu.

Contract: Permanent

DBS Required: YES – Basic

The People & HR Advisor provides operational HR advice and support to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), managers and staff at CoLab. This role ensures that existing HR policies and procedures are applied consistently and in line with current employment legislation. The postholder will work closely with external professional bodies (e.g. CIPD, SafeHR or equivalent HR advisory services) to remain informed of legislative updates and advise SLT where changes to policy or practice may be required. This is not a strategic or line management role. Strategic HR direction and organisational risk sit with SLT.

A core expectation of this role is physical presence within the Hub to provide accessible, relational support to staff. Home working is ad hoc and aligned to specific project work (e.g. employee relations case preparation).

Demonstrating our values of welcome, compassion and collaboration, we are seeking individuals who are able to communicate clearly, respectfully and effectively with a diverse range of people, adapting their approach to suit different needs and contexts. The role requires building positive, professional relationships at all levels and contributing to an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone engaging with CoLab. The post holder will be committed to empowering people to make positive choices and work towards behaviour change in their lives. They will be proactive, optimistic, and committed to the opportunities created through collaborative partnership working.

About the Role

• HR Advisory & Employee Relations
• Act as the first point of contact for managers seeking guidance on applying existing HR policies and procedures.
• Provide operational advice across the full employee lifecycle including: Recruitment and safer recruitment processes, Induction and probation, Absence management, Performance management, Disciplinary and grievance procedures, Flexible working requests, Family-friendly rights.
• Support managers with documentation and process guidance for employee relations casework.
• Liaise with external HR advisors (e.g. SafeHR) where specialist advice is required.
• Ensure employee relations processes are fair, documented and compliant.
• Policy & Compliance Oversight
• Maintain oversight of all HR-related policies and procedures.
• Monitor legislative updates via CIPD, SafeHR or equivalent and advise SLT where policy amendments are required.
• Draft updates to policies for SLT review and approval.
• Ensure policy review cycles are maintained and documented.
• Support implementation of policy changes across the organisation.
• HR Systems & Administration Oversight
• Oversee the effective use of HR systems (e.g. SafeHR or equivalent).
• Ensure accurate employee records are maintained in line with GDPR.
• Monitor annual leave, absence and probation tracking.
• Work with Finance to support payroll administration processes.
• Provide HR data reports to SLT as required (e.g. absence trends, staffing metrics).
• Recruitment & Onboarding Support
• Support managers to deliver compliant recruitment processes.
• Oversee preparation of contracts and offer documentation.
• Ensure onboarding documentation and right-to-work checks are completed.
• Maintain recruitment templates and process guidance.
• On-Site Staff Support
• Be visibly present and accessible within the Hub.
• Provide informal guidance and signposting to staff where appropriate.
• Support managers with difficult conversations and people-related matters.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while being approachable.
• Continuous Professional Awareness
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and best practice.
• Engage with professional networks (e.g. CIPD updates).
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to SLT promptly.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of duties. You may be required to undertake additional duties consistent with the nature and level of the role and the broader objectives of CoLab.

Working Pattern & Presence

This role is primarily office-based to ensure visibility and accessibility to staff. Home working may be agreed on an ad hoc basis where aligned to project work or case preparation.

Person Specification

With an approach that aligns to our values of compassion, welcome, collaboration, ambition and social justice, the post holder will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Skills, Knowledge and Experience
• Essential:
• CIPD Level 3 qualified (or working towards) or demonstrable equivalent operational HR experience. We will support the successful candidate to further their CIPD training.
• Proven experience working in a generalist HR role within the UK.
• Sound working knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application.
• Experience supporting managers with employee relations processes including absence management, performance management, disciplinary and grievance procedures.
• Experience maintaining and updating HR policies in line with legislative changes.
• Ability to interpret legislation and professional guidance (e.g. CIPD, SafeHR) and translate this into practical advice for managers.
• Experience overseeing recruitment and onboarding processes, including right-to-work and safer recruitment requirements.
• Experience maintaining accurate and confidential HR records in line with GDPR.
• Strong written communication skills, including drafting clear documentation and correspondence.
• Confident verbal communicator, able to explain HR processes clearly and calmly.
• High level of discretion and ability to manage sensitive information appropriately.
• Experience using HR systems to monitor absence, leave and employee records.
• Ability to provide accurate HR data and reports to senior leaders as required.
• Desirable:
• Experience working within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
• Experience working in a small or medium-sized organisation with limited internal HR infrastructure.
• Experience supporting organisations with lived-experience or trauma-informed workforces.
• Experience liaising with external HR advisory services or employment law providers.
• Experience supporting policy review cycles and organisational compliance processes.
• Personal Qualities and Values
• Essential:
• Approachable and relational, building trust through consistent presence and visibility within the organisation.
• Comfortable being available in person and providing calm, grounded support without becoming over-involved.
• Able to remain steady and professional in emotionally complex or sensitive situations.
• Capable of supporting managers through challenging conversations without escalating tension.
• Fair and objective in approach, applying policy consistently and proportionately.
• Able to balance compassion with procedural integrity.
• Demonstrates impartiality while remaining human and empathetic.
• Clear and confident communicator, able to explain policies and processes in accessible, plain language.
• Produces accurate, well-structured written documentation.
• Emotionally intelligent, able to read situations and adapt approach appropriately.
• Understands professional boundaries between advice, advocacy and decision-making.
• Knows when to escalate matters appropriately.
• Discreet and trustworthy, maintaining absolute confidentiality.
• Exercises sound professional judgement when handling sensitive information.
• Organised and methodical in managing casework and documentation.
• Maintains accurate records and audit trails.
• Comfortable working within defined remit and escalation structures.
• Respects SLT accountability for organisational risk and organisational decision making.
• Desirable:
• Experience working in values-led or trauma-informed settings, with an understanding of how organisational culture and lived experience intersect with HR practice.
• Coaching mindset, supporting managers to build confidence rather than taking over situations.
• Reflective practitioner, able to review own practice and seek advice or supervision appropriately.
• Balanced and pragmatic in approach, able to distinguish between matters requiring formal process and those suitable for informal resolution.
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment where projects, funding and organisational capacity may shift.
• Safer Recruitment & Compliance
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
• Appointment may be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level for the role.
• We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Fixed-term Employment Protection

Fixed-term employees will be treated no less favourably than comparable permanent employees, in accordance with the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 and applicable employment law.

How to Apply

CoLab is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

To apply, please visit our website: Current Vacancies — CoLab Exeter

Application Deadline: Monday 22nd June 2026 at 5pm.

Interviews: Thursday 2nd July 2026 at CoLab Exeter.