HR Adviser in Lewes

Are you ready to use your HR expertise to make a real impact where it truly matters? As an HR Adviser, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the experience of the people who deliver specialised care to those in need. If you’re drawn to meaningful work, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to help build a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered, we’d love to hear from you.

Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, BN8 4ED

Contract Type: Permanent, full‑time

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday

What you’ll be doing:

• As a key member of our People Services team, you’ll provide professional, generalist HR support across the full employee life cycle.
• Recruitment & Selection: Partner with hiring managers to design and run effective recruitment campaigns. Support job design, interviews and selection processes. Ensure smooth, compliant onboarding and offboarding with our People Services Administrator.
• Employee Relations & Performance: Guide managers through absence, performance and conduct matters. Provide confident advice on HR policies, employment law and best practice. Work closely with Occupational Health to support staff wellbeing.
• Engagement & Culture: Co‑host our bi‑monthly hospice welcome sessions. Chair the Employee Forum and champion engagement initiatives. Support events, recognition programmes and employer brand activities. Support job evaluation processes and work with Payroll on contractual changes. Advise on family‑friendly policies and produce variation documentation.

What we’re looking for:

• CIPD Level 5 (qualified or working towards), or equivalent experience.
• Strong generalist HR experience with the confidence to partner with managers.
• Solid knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Excellent communication, relationship‑building and organisational skills.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused approach with strong attention to detail.
• Experience with HR systems such as Iris Cascade, and experience delivering induction programmes, would be beneficial.

A role with purpose, where your expertise supports exceptional care. A collaborative working culture that values autonomy and professional growth. Opportunities to influence people initiatives and drive meaningful engagement. A workplace that celebrates contribution, diversity and individuality.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Kathy Kellam, HR Business Partner by emailing kkelam@stpjhospice.org.

The Organisation: St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end‑of‑life care for our Mid‑Sussex community. People affected by life‑limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time. Our services are free of charge and can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey. We achieve our goals through the organisation’s talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce. Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions.

The Benefits:

• 27 days holiday
• Enhanced maternity/adoption pay
• Monthly occupational health clinics
• 20% discount in our charity shops

Our people are our strength. We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age. Please ensure you have your own means of transport as the hospice is not accessible by bus and is located on a main road without a public footpath.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please contact us on hr@stpjhospice.org. Please note we may shortlist and interview candidates as applications are received. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory results from pre‑employment checks (right to work, references, Occupational Health and DBS if applicable).