Assistant People Advisor

Are you someone who enjoys helping people find their way through challenging situations? Do you have experience working in HR or a People team and want to build on what you already know, while making a real difference to colleagues?

We’re looking for an Assistant People Advisor to join our ER and Change Team on a full-time, permanent basis.

Working in HR is about more than policies and procedures. It’s about helping people work through difficult situations, supporting managers with conversations they might find challenging, and making sure colleagues feel supported and treated fairly.

As an Assistant People Advisor, you’ll be part of a team that helps make this happen. You’ll provide advice and guidance to managers on lower-risk employee relations matters, including attendance, performance, conduct, wellbeing and workplace concerns, with support from experienced People Advisors when needed.

You’ll help managers understand their options, apply our policies consistently and approach sensitive conversations with care. You’ll also help managers work through people-related issues, building your own advisory skills and confidence along the way.

You’ll have the opportunity to manage lower-risk employee relations cases, with guidance and oversight from a People Advisor. You’ll build on your existing HR knowledge, develop your case management skills and gain experience across a range of employee relations matters.

This is a great opportunity for someone who already has experience in an HR or People role and is ready for their next step. You’ll be able to bring what you’ve learned so far, contribute to the team and grow your knowledge along the way.

The role is predominantly home-based, with occasional in-person meetings, team days and training events, typically in London or Birmingham.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 5th and 6th November via Microsoft Teams.

About you

You’ll already have experience working within an HR or People team and have a good understanding of how HR processes and policies work in practice. Perhaps you’ve been providing HR support or advice and are now looking for an opportunity to get more involved in employee relations. Or maybe you’re working in a similar role and want to build your confidence in managing cases and advising managers.

Whatever your background, you’ll be someone who enjoys working with people and helping them find a way forward. You’ll understand that every situation is different and that sometimes managers need clear guidance, a listening ear or a little help working out their next steps.

You’ll be organised and comfortable managing different priorities, keeping accurate records and handling confidential information. You’ll be confident communicating with people at different levels, approaching sensitive situations with empathy and using sound judgement to recognise when to seek advice or support.

You don’t need to know everything already. What matters is that you have a foundation of HR knowledge, are keen to keep learning and want to make a positive difference through the support you provide.

What you’ll bring

• Previous experience working within an HR or People function, with an understanding of HR processes and practices.
• Experience providing HR support, advice or guidance on people-related matters, including HR administration or employee relations.
• An understanding of HR policies, procedures and employment practices, along with an interest in developing your employee relations knowledge.
• The ability to organise your workload, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Clear, approachable communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with managers and colleagues.
• Good attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records, documentation and confidential information.
• A thoughtful and professional approach to sensitive situations, with the ability to use sound judgement and recognise when to seek advice or support.
• A willingness to learn, ask questions and build your confidence as you take on new responsibilities.

What you’ll focus on

Every day will bring something different, from helping a manager think through a people issue to preparing for a meeting or supporting improvements to the way we work. You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Provide advice and guidance to managers on lower-risk employee relations matters, helping them understand their options and next steps.
• Support managers to prepare for and approach difficult conversations, using a coaching approach where appropriate.
• Manage lower-risk employee relations cases, with guidance and oversight from a People Advisor.
• Prepare letters, correspondence and meeting paperwork to help ensure employee relations processes run smoothly.
• Keep case records up to date and maintain accurate information across our case management systems and trackers.
• Support the review and updating of People policies, procedures, guidance and resources.
• Work alongside colleagues across the wider People Team to provide a helpful, responsive and consistent service.
• Contribute to projects and initiatives that support organisational change and help us find better ways of working.

If you’re ready to build on your HR experience, learn from a supportive team and help managers and colleagues navigate the people matters that really count, we’d love to hear from you.