Senior HR Advisor in Abingdon

On behalf of UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority) we are looking for a Senior HR Advisor - (INSIDE IR35) for a 6-month contract working on a hybrid basis and with an expectation of 3 days attendance in the Abingdon, Oxford office. UKAEA run the UK's national fusion energy research programme, sponsored by the Government's Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. They are on a mission to deliver safe, sustainable, low-carbon energy from fusion, achieving maximum scientific and economic benefit along the way.

This role works closely with the Strategic People Business Partner (SPBP) to develop and deliver the People Plan for the Directorate, supporting the continued growth of the Division driving the people agenda, and supporting matrixed employees into a large UKAEA programmes. The role is responsible for building and delivering people projects that will support the success of the Directorates business plans. This will include a broad range of people related projects such as change management, organisational design, EDI initiatives, talent management, early careers and building leadership capability.

This role works with managers, ensuring they are competent and consistent in leading their teams, applying the performance management processes set out in the People policies and procedures. This role is responsible for collaborating with specialists in the People Department to build people management capability, talent management initiatives, succession planning, developing content to upskill managers and overseeing recruitment campaigns. The role includes responsibility for the operational day-to-day people activities within the Directorate, supporting the Employee Relations Team with the employee relations caseload, leading people processes including performance management, capability building, onboarding and exit management, coordinating recruitment activities, and query handling on people processes and policies in conjunction with the various centres of excellence within the People & Culture function.

As a Senior HR Advisor - (INSIDE IR35), your main responsibilities will be:

• People Plans
  • Support the development, implementation, and delivery of the associated Division's annual People Plan.
  • Research external benchmarks and best practice to improve and enhance, together with the SPBP, procedures for all people related activities, such as Performance Management, Attendance, Recognition and Reward, Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, Succession Planning and Career Development. Shares insights as part of a community with other People & Culture team members.
• People Projects
  • Build and deliver people-related projects that support the business plans for associated Divisions.
  • Collaborate and work closely with the broader People Department and People Strategy Team to deliver on shared and individual objectives, leading and contributing to People related projects as appropriate.
• Management Information
  • Provide intelligent management information to deliver reports and people data as required to meet the needs of People projects, the ER team, operational activities, and initiatives, including collating, analysing, interpreting, and presenting data.
• Organisational Development
  • Support the SPBP with embedding and defining the culture and behaviours of associated Divisions and Programmes, contributing research on best practice and implementing initiatives.
  • Contribute to the change management plans, supporting and effectively communicating while engaging with key stakeholders.
  • Assist with internal People process improvements, and People policy development and implementation, taking account of external best practice and benchmarking.
  • Lead the employee engagement and wellbeing surveys and follow up with action planning. Assist in facilitating focus groups and think tank sessions.
  • Take ownership of the development, continuous improvement and implementation of onboarding programmes, supporting managers on what is expected of them, to ensure that all employees are welcomed, motivated, engaged and well-integrated.
  • Partner with business and team leaders to provide feedback, manage performance, develop talent, coach employees, and promptly address employee relations matters.
• Employee Relations
  • Manage informal employee relations cases, coaching managers and employees to achieve informal resolutions and prevent escalations of cases.
  • Support the ER and Policy team with adhoc employee relations cases by advising on the management of conduct issues, grievances and other ER issues within the Programme.
  • Gathering data-informed insights and developing proactive solutions to reduce ER informal and formal casework.
• Talent, Learning & Development
  • Liaise with central Global Mobility team to support secondments, providing advice and support as required to colleagues before, during and post-placement.
  • Contribute to the talent development agenda and its implementation through talent management initiatives such as developing career paths, succession planning, performance review processes, and the identification of development and training needs.
  • Support the SPBP with near and long-term workforce forecasting and demand planning, focusing on building the capability of the manager rather than just managing the issue.
  • Work in collaboration with the Divisional Skills Manager to develop early career initiatives, interventions and programmes.
  • Work in collaboration to determine both technical and non-technical competencies for each role to support career planning, development needs and L&D interventions. Support Skills Manager development and roll out of technical competency mapping.

Essential

• Degree in Human Resource Management or equivalent experience with a minimum of CIPD Level 5.
• ER experience.
• A good understanding of employment law.
• Experience of working as an HR Advisor/Junior HRBP or HRBP.
• Experience of translating policy and legal requirements into meaningful advice.
• Experience of using evidence to propose solutions to HR challenges, including collating, analysing, interpreting, and presenting data.
• Experience of and the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks well.

Desirable

• Public Sector experience.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced organisation.
• Using Excel competently to produce meaningful analytics.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas. In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.