People (HR) Advisor in London

Role Summary

Responsibilities: Providing trusted advice and guidance on people management and employee relations matters, as well as supporting the delivery and continuous improvement of People processes and projects across the organisation.

Salary: £34,000 to £38,000 per annum, depending on your previous experience.

Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, full funding for external training, and more.

Role Type: Full-time, permanent role.

Start Date: We are currently recruiting for start dates in late 2026, as well as January and February 2027, and you will be asked to state your availability on your application form.

Application Deadlines: Whilst there are no set application deadlines, we strongly recommend applying as early as possible. The role will close when a suitable candidate is found.

Location: This role is available in our Global Headquarters in Cambridge, as well as our London and Manchester offices.

About the Role

The People team plays a central role in the success of Costello Medical, helping to create a positive and supportive experience for colleagues throughout their careers at the company. As a People Advisor sitting in our Senior People team, you will be an approachable and trusted source of support for colleagues and managers across the organisation, providing practical guidance on a variety of people management matters and taking ownership of employee relations casework. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to colleagues throughout the employment lifecycle, while helping us maintain a People function that is supportive, responsive and aligned with the needs of our growing organisation.

This is a varied role which also offers exposure to a broad range of People processes and initiatives across areas such as employee engagement, wellbeing, development and talent management. You will be encouraged to bring new ideas and find better ways of working, including using technology and AI to streamline processes and reduce manual administration, giving the team more time to focus on what matters most: our people.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing trusted advice and guidance to colleagues and managers on employee relations and people management matters, with a focus on managing employee relations casework.
• Overseeing the effective delivery and continuous improvement of People processes and projects across the employee lifecycle, including reward processes, employee surveys and talent management initiatives.
• Leading projects that strengthen employee engagement, helping to create an inclusive and positive experience for all colleagues.
• Reviewing and developing People policies and procedures, ensuring they remain aligned with current legislation and the evolving needs of the organisation.
• Proactively identifying opportunities to streamline and enhance People processes through technology, automation and AI, including developing automated workflows that reduce manual work and support a more efficient People service.
• Creating and reviewing employee communications and HR documentation, ensuring information is accurate, clear and appropriately tailored to its audience.
• Contributing proactively to People team forums by leading discussions, sharing knowledge and delivering training on relevant topics.
• Supporting and developing colleagues within the People team, with opportunities to take on line management responsibilities of People Administrators as the role develops.

Hybrid Working Policy

We believe that having face-to-face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments.

Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues who have passed probation to work from home up to half their time, measured across a 2-week rolling period. During your probationary period (normally the first 6 months of the role), you will be able to work from home 1 day per week.

Career Profile

To learn more about the personal and professional development opportunities at Costello Medical, explore first-hand career profiles from our colleagues about their experiences with the company.

About Costello Medical

Costello Medical is a rapidly growing global healthcare agency specialising in medical communications, market access, and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry’s most successful pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, patient and public health bodies, and charitable organisations. We have been listed in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2017, the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list in 2025, and were proud to receive B Corporation accreditation in 2022. We are also a certified Disability Confident and menopause friendly workplace.

About You

We are looking for an experienced People professional who combines strong technical knowledge with a genuine passion for supporting colleagues and creating a positive employee experience. You will enjoy building trusted relationships and be comfortable supporting people through a wide variety of situations, including those that require sensitivity, sound judgement and discretion. You will be confident providing practical advice while recognising when situations require further investigation, research or input from others.

You will also be proactive, curious and motivated by opportunities to improve our People service. Whether reviewing a policy, analysing People data, contributing to a wider project or identifying a better way of working, you will enjoy taking ownership and seeing ideas through to completion. You will bring a collaborative and approachable style to the People team, as well as the initiative to work independently, research unfamiliar topics and make well-reasoned recommendations.

Requirements for the role:

• A Level 5 CIPD qualification or another relevant HR qualification.
• Proven experience working in a People/HR Advisor or similar generalist HR role.
• Experience providing advice and guidance on employee relations and people management matters, with exposure to areas such as performance, conduct, grievances and absence.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice, with the ability to translate requirements into practical and proportionate advice.
• Experience supporting People processes or projects across the employee lifecycle.
• Strong research and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently investigate People-related topics and develop well-reasoned recommendations.
• Experience developing HR policies, procedures or guidance materials.
• Sound judgement, tact and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex or sensitive information clearly and appropriately.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage employee relations casework and projects simultaneously.
• A collaborative and approachable working style, with the ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues and senior stakeholders across the company.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering an accurate, responsive and high-quality People service.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and AI tools, with an interest in exploring how technology can improve processes and ways of working.
• Experience supporting and developing colleagues within a team would be advantageous.

What We Offer:

A starting salary of £34,000 to £38,000 per annum, depending on your previous experience, as well as a discretionary profit share bonus paid twice per year. Please note that we have established salary bands to ensure a fair and consistent approach for all applicants, eliminating the need for individual negotiations.

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank and public holidays, as well as a holiday buy and sell scheme.
• Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time after passing probation.
• Flexible benefits scheme offering cash payments, additional pension contributions and more.
• Private Medical Insurance which offers comprehensive cover on a “medical history disregard” basis.
• Paid study leave and funding for external qualifications.
• Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service.

Visa Sponsorship: Please note that this role does not meet the eligibility criteria for visa sponsorship, and you will therefore need the right to work in the UK independently from the company.