Senior HR Advisor in Ballymena

About TST Group

TST Group is a leading, family-owned logistics business providing transport, distribution, warehousing, customs and integrated supply chain solutions across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Built on our commitment to Tomorrow's Service Today, we have grown significantly through investment in our people, facilities, technology and strategic acquisitions. With operations across Northern Ireland and Great Britain, our people are central to delivering excellent service and supporting the continued growth of the Group.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a confident, experienced Senior HR Advisor to take ownership of the day-to-day delivery of HR services across TST Group. Reporting to the Group HR Manager, the successful candidate will be the key operational point of contact for managers and employees, handling employee relations, recruitment, attendance, performance and HR compliance across our sites. This role will enable the Group HR Manager to focus on strategic people initiatives and developing the HR function, while the Senior HR Advisor coordinates daily priorities and provides guidance to a future HR Administrator.

Key Responsibilities

• Day-to-Day HR Leadership
  • Coordinate the daily workload and priorities of the HR function across Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for routine and complex operational HR queries, escalating strategic or high-risk matters appropriately.
  • Provide practical, timely advice to managers and ensure consistent application of HR policies and processes.
  • Oversee and support the work of a future HR Administrator, including quality, accuracy and timely completion of tasks.
• Employee Relations & Case Management
  • Manage disciplinary, grievance, conduct, capability and performance cases, including investigations, meetings and documentation.
  • Advise and coach managers on fair and consistent employee relations processes.
  • Oversee absence management, return-to-work processes, attendance reviews and probation management.
  • Maintain accurate case records and identify recurring issues or opportunities for improvement.
• Recruitment, Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle
  • Coordinate recruitment campaigns, selection processes, offers and onboarding with hiring managers.
  • Oversee contracts, employment documentation, induction and probation arrangements.
  • Support employee changes, internal moves and leaver processes, ensuring accurate records and appropriate approvals.
  • Work with operational leaders to plan resourcing requirements across the Group.
• Employment Law, Policy & Compliance
  • Apply and maintain sound working knowledge of employment legislation and HR practice in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain, recognising differences between the jurisdictions.
  • Support compliance with relevant statutory requirements, internal policies and fair employment practices.
  • Keep HR policies, templates and procedures accurate and up to date, escalating required changes to the Group HR Manager.
  • Handle confidential and sensitive employee information with appropriate discretion and data protection safeguards.
• HR Systems, Reporting & Administration
  • Maintain accurate employee data, personnel records and HR systems.
  • Monitor HR metrics including absence, turnover, recruitment activity, employee relations caseload and probation completion.
  • Ensure contracts, correspondence and case files are produced accurately and on time.
  • Identify opportunities to simplify administration and improve processes through systems and technology.
• People Engagement & Continuous Improvement
  • Support employee engagement, wellbeing, communication and retention initiatives.
  • Build effective working relationships with depot managers and support teams across the Group.
  • Assist the Group HR Manager with organisational change, policy development and people projects.
  • Promote TST Group values and a consistent, supportive employee experience across all locations.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be measured against agreed objectives, including:

• Timely resolution and quality of employee relations cases.
• Compliance with Northern Ireland and Great Britain employment requirements.
• Recruitment and onboarding efficiency.
• Absence, retention and employee lifecycle reporting accuracy.
• HR records, documentation and system data quality.
• Manager satisfaction and consistency of HR support.
• Effective coordination of HR administration and delivery of improvement actions.

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• At least five years of relevant HR experience, including substantial generalist advisory and employee relations responsibilities.
• Experience independently managing disciplinary, grievance, absence and performance processes.
• Strong working knowledge of employment legislation in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain, or demonstrable ability to advise accurately across both jurisdictions.
• CIPD Level 3 qualification or working towards a higher-level qualification.
• Experience supporting managers in a fast-paced, multi-priority environment.
• Excellent communication, judgement, organisation and confidentiality.
• Competence with Microsoft Office and HR information systems.

Desirable

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or working towards it.
• Experience in logistics, transport, warehousing, manufacturing or another operational environment.
• Experience supporting multi-site teams across Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
• Experience mentoring or supervising HR administrative colleagues.
• Involvement in HR process improvement, systems or organisational change projects.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for an individual who is:

• Approachable and credible: Builds trust with managers and employees at all levels.
• Confident and accountable: Takes ownership of day-to-day HR matters and follows them through.
• Practical and balanced: Combines sound judgement with an understanding of operational needs.
• Organised and proactive: Prioritises competing demands and spots issues early.
• Discreet and fair: Handles sensitive matters consistently and professionally.
• Collaborative: Works closely with the Group HR Manager and teams across the business.

Benefits:

• Staff Discounts
• Salary sacrifice pension
• Cycle to work scheme