HR Adviser

Job Description

Job Title: HR Adviser (G6)

Posting Start Date: 18/11/2025

Job Id: 1832

School/Department: Human Resources

Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary per annum (£): £32,080 – £36,636

Closing Date: 09/12/2025

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

Based in the HR Business Partnering and Employee Relations Team, this role is an excellent opportunity for you to start or grow your career as a HR Adviser. Working within a small, supportive team, you will deliver a high-quality HR service, providing expert support and guidance across the entire employee lifecycle. This involves building strong relationships with University managers and staff in our schools and departments, and working with team members to deliver solutions to diverse employment situations.

In this fast-paced role you will be encouraged to work both independently and as part of a team. You will work closely alongside colleagues, developing the skills needed to manage risk and contribute to initiatives that enhance the University\’s performance through HR policy and practice. The role requires you to be flexible, decisive and results focused.

You should have a strong interest in developing your knowledge of employment legislation and best practice. Excellent organisation and communication skills are essential, along with a proactive attitude and a desire to learn how to apply HR expertise effectively within a complex work environment.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work within a small team to deliver an outcome focused HR service covering a wide range of people management issues including employee relations, workforce planning, change management and recruitment and selection
• Act as a recognised source of professional employment advice for all types of HR queries within the University, ensuring that the University\’s employment policies and procedures are implemented effectively and in line with employment law, seeking advice and guidance from senior colleagues as and when needed
• Proactively support HR colleagues, line managers and other University staff in managing casework. This will include involvement in disciplinary and grievance procedures, working with and supporting University managers in conducting investigations, sickness absence management and participation in relevant panels
• Support managers, schools and departments in their use of the University\’s reward and recognition framework
• Work within the team to contribute to annual University HR processes such as reward and recognition and probation
• Support change management processes, including the development of consultation documents, supporting individual meetings and the redeployment of staff at risk
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR practice and the development of policies and procedures through involvement in project work
• Undertake project work that contributes more broadly to the University, in order to broaden understanding of the organisation and develop a broader HR skill set
• Develop and adopt a solution focussed and pragmatic approach that delivers positive outcomes for the organisation
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn\’t match perfectly with this role\’s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A good working knowledge of relevant employment law and legislation

Essential

Application, interview and selection test

Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence and persuade stakeholders

Essential

Application, interview and selection test

Experience of delivering excellent outcomes in a complex and fast moving organisation

Essential

Application and interview

An analytical and pragmatic approach to problem solving on a wide range of issues with competing priorities, taking