HR Advisor in Berkhamsted

Hours: Mon – Friday, Office based with 1 day WFH, 34 hours per week

Role Summary

The HR Advisor provides comprehensive HR support across Head Office and Nursery Group operations, delivering practical advice on employee relations matters and ensuring consistent application of HR policies and procedures. The role is responsible for HR administration, data accuracy and compliance, including maintaining records and supporting audits. The HR Advisor also supports recruitment, onboarding and policy development in line with employment law and ACAS Codes of Practice, while providing nursery specific guidance and ensuring regulatory compliance. Additionally, the role supports the Franchise Network through the development of clear, compliant HR tools and resources, without direct case management responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Advisory & Operational Support
• Provide first line HR advice to managers on performance, conduct, capability, absence and wellbeing
• Support employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance processes, escalating complex or high-risk cases as appropriate
• Ensure consistent and fair application of HR policies and procedures
• Support recruitment processes, including offer management, onboarding and probation reviews
• Identify training needs and contribute to people capability development
• Nursery Specific
• Oversee HR compliance and documentation standards specific to nurseries, including DBS status and audit readiness
• Ensure HR policies, templates and guidance are appropriate for nursery and early years environments
• Identify HR risks, compliance gaps or process failures within nursery operations and escalate appropriately
• Advise on employment law and regulatory requirements specific to early years and safeguarding environments
• Franchise Network
• Maintain and update HR and recruitment toolkits within the Operations Manual
• Ensure templates, guidance and checklists are accurate, compliant and clearly written
• Signpost franchisees to the Operations Manual, HR helpline or external HR support
• Maintain clear boundaries by not managing individual franchise HR or employee relations cases
• Coordinate and support training delivery across the franchise network
• HR Administration, Governance & Projects (All Areas)
• Maintain accurate HR records, contracts and employee data across systems
• Issue contracts, amendments and HR correspondence, and ensure accurate payroll and benefits data
• Prepare HR documentation and maintain clear records of cases and outcomes
• Draft, review and update HR policies and processes in line with employment law and ACAS Codes of Practice
• Ensure HR processes are documented, compliant, and audit-ready, supporting checks including DBS
• Monitor employment law changes and update documentation accordingly
• Produce HR data and insights to support decision making and risk management
• Support HR projects, communications, training and wellbeing initiatives
• Manage and review employee benefits for Head Office and Nursery Group to ensure competitiveness, value and clear communication

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• Experience in an HR Advisor, HR Officer or similar role
• CIPD Level 5 qualified (or working towards)
• Experience supporting managers with employee relations matters
• Experience working in a busy, operational or multi-site environment
• Experience in early years, education, care or safeguarding settings, with knowledge of DBS and compliance requirements (desirable)
• Basic to good working knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS Codes of Practice

Skills & Attributes

• Provides clear, practical and commercially focused HR advice
• Strong judgement and discretion when handling sensitive matters
• Excellent written communication skills (policies, guidance, correspondence)
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and accurate record keeping
• Able to balance advisory work with hands-on HR administration
• Proactive approach to identifying and managing risk and compliance issues
• Confident working independently, managing priorities and escalating where needed
• Professional, calm and pragmatic in supporting managers

Benefits

• Length of Service Recognition: We want you stay with us! We recognise and reward your length of service with Monkey Puzzle
• Enhanced Maternity Pay: Enhanced pay after 2 years’ service
• Private Healthcare
• YuLife: You will be enrolled into our Group Life Assurance policy and have access to the YuLife app
• Flexible Working
• Conversion based incentive
• Social Events: We arrange catch ups with the team alongside our Christmas parties
• Additional Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days plus 8 UK bank holidays
• Early finish on a Friday!

Safeguarding Statement

Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries are committed to Keeping children safe; therefore, it is necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record Disclosure and Barring check to be undertaken. All posts involving direct contact with children and vulnerable adults are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. All candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions, you may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your employment commences.