HR Advisor in Stoke-on-Trent

Location: Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4NF (Onsite)

Are you a proactive HR professional looking to make a real impact in a dynamic, international environment? We are seeking an experienced HR Advisor who can partner effectively with management to provide expert guidance across all areas of HR, including training and development, recruitment and employment legislation. In this varied role, you will also support the HR Manager while managing a range of HR processes across the UK and continental Europe. If you thrive in a fast‑paced setting and are passionate about delivering people‑focused solutions that drive organisational success, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

• Provide expert HR advice and guidance to managers on a wide range of employment matters, ensuring best practice and legal compliance.
• Coach and support line managers on disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance issues, including attending formal meetings.
• Promote equal opportunities and fair employment practices across all areas of the business.
• Analyse performance and absence data to support informed decision‑making and action planning.
• Manage employee health matters, including occupational health referrals and workplace adjustments.
• Lead end‑to‑end recruitment processes, from vacancy approval to onboarding, including advertising, shortlisting, and selection support.
• Develop engaging job adverts and support effective talent attraction strategies across multiple platforms.
• Design and deliver training, support development needs analysis, and contribute to the company training plan.
• Maintain accurate HR systems, records, and reports, while ensuring GDPR compliance and supporting payroll processes.
• Contribute to HR projects, employee engagement initiatives, and continuous improvement of HR policies and processes, with flexibility to travel and support business needs as required.

The Candidate

• Degree qualified in a business‑related discipline and CIPD qualified (or equivalent).
• Proven experience operating at HR Advisor level within a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law, with the ability to apply it in practice.
• Confident in coaching and influencing managers on a wide range of employee relations matters.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proactive and solutions‑focused approach.
• Highly organised and numerate, with the ability to analyse and interpret HR data.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and experience using HR systems/databases.
• Knowledge of European employment law would be advantageous.
• Additional language skills (German or Dutch) and a full clean driving licence are desirable.

Benefits

• Competitive salary + company bonus.
• Tailored training and development, including company‑funded external qualifications where relevant.
• Generous pension scheme with 7% employer contribution.
• Life assurance at 3.5× your salary.
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support.
• Discounted gym membership – up to 25% off at 4,000+ UK gyms.
• Fuel card savings of 2–3p per litre at 3,500 stations, including BP, Esso and Shell.
• Employee recognition schemes celebrating great work.
• 33 days’ holiday per year (inclusive of bank/public holidays).

About Progress Rail – Electro‑Motive Diesel

Progress Rail – Electro‑Motive Diesel is a subsidiary of Caterpillar, specialised in manufacturing, maintaining and overhauling diesel‑electric locomotives across the world. For more than half a century, Electro‑Motive Diesel has hauled freight and passengers, powered ships, and generated electricity for over 100 countries around the globe. Becoming a part of Electro‑Motive Diesel means becoming a part of a challenging and bright future in our global marketplace.

Progress Rail Values

• Safety – Care, Learn, Prevent.
• Integrity – Do the Right Thing.
• Teamwork – Win Together.
• Excellence – Be the Best.
• Commitment – Own the Outcome.

Equal Opportunities

Progress Rail is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We value and embrace diversity of thought, background and unique experiences and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workforce and culture.