HR Advisor

Location: Herefordshire - sites and office and some home working

Salary: £32,348 - £37,662 per annum, based on 37 hours per week

Benefits: 26 days' annual leave rising to 31 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays, pension, cycle to work scheme and employee rewards platform

Working pattern: Full time, with part-time applications considered

The opportunity

Our client, a leading organisation supporting schools and academies, is looking for an HR Advisor to provide practical, trusted HR advice across a diverse education environment. This is a hands-on, people-focused role where you will work directly with school leaders on a wide range of HR and employee relations matters. You will be visible, accessible and comfortable attending school sites to support customers when needed. This is not a desk-based advisory role. You will need to be local, flexible and able to travel across Herefordshire, sometimes at short notice.

How the role works

The working pattern will vary depending on customer demand. On average, you can expect to be on site at schools or in the office around 2-3 days per week, although some weeks may require daily attendance. Other weeks may offer greater flexibility for remote working. You will need to be able to travel independently for business purposes and respond flexibly to the needs of the schools you support.

What you'll do

• Provide day-to-day HR and employee relations advice to schools and academies
• Support disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence and redundancy casework
• Attend formal and preparatory meetings at school sites
• Act as an investigating officer on a range of employment matters, including report writing
• Support the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures
• Work with trade union representatives as part of formal processes
• Contribute to change management and consultation activity
• Deliver or support HR training sessions for schools and other clients
• Provide advice by phone, Teams, email and in person, depending on the situation
• Escalate more complex issues appropriately while developing your own capability through hands-on experience

You will work with a degree of autonomy, supported by Senior HR Advisors and HR Managers within a collaborative HR team.

What we're looking for

• Experience advising on employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance cases
• A good working knowledge of employment law and HR best practice
• The ability to manage sensitive situations professionally and calmly
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with senior stakeholders
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• A flexible, practical and customer-focused approach
• The ability to travel independently to school sites across Herefordshire
• Experience of working within schools or the education sector would be advantageous, as would knowledge of education-specific terms and conditions.

However, applications are also welcomed from HR professionals who can demonstrate the ability to apply their experience effectively within a school environment.

You will be CIPD qualified, working towards CIPD, or able to demonstrate equivalent practical experience and a clear commitment to professional development.

Why join?

• A varied HR role with genuine impact on schools and local communities
• The opportunity to build experience across a broad range of employee relations matters
• A supportive and collaborative HR team
• Flexible working arrangements that balance business need with home working
• 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to a rewards platform offering discounts with retailers and restaurants

Our client is committed to equality, inclusion and supporting applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be considered.