HR Advisor

Job Description: HR Advisor

Reports to: HR Business Partner
Location: Gateshead
Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £33,000 - £35,000

Role Purpose

The HR Advisor will act as the first point of contact for managers, providing balanced, high-quality and pragmatic HR advice across a wide range of employee relations (ER) matters that are in line with employment law, organisational values and the company’s commercial goals. Reporting to the HR Business Partner, the post holder will support and empower managers in achieving consistent, fair, and legally compliant outcomes, while promoting best practice people management.

Key Responsibilities

Act as the first point of contact for managers seeking HR advice and guidance on employee relations issues.
Support managers in handling ER cases including:

Sickness absence management (short- and long-term).
Investigations, disciplinaries, and grievances.
Capability and performance management.
Whistleblowing cases.
Flexible working requests.

Provide advice and support on suspension processes.
Liaise with managers and leaders to schedule meetings, hearings, and case-related discussions.
Attend and support formal meetings, including taking accurate and confidential notes.
Liaise with trade union representatives, ensuring professional and constructive relationships.
Draft correspondence including outcome letters, case documentation, and formal communications.
Monitor and track sickness absence in line with company policy, escalating trigger points where appropriate.
Support managers with occupational health referrals and follow-up actions.

Deliver training and coaching to managers and leaders on HR processes.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR policies, procedures, and practices.
Occasional travel across the East of England
Ad-hoc project work as directed by the HR Business Partner.
Any other duties reasonably expected within the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

CIPD Level 5 qualified (or working towards) OR significant experience in an HR Advisory role.
Proven experience providing advice on complex ER matters.
Experience of working with trade unions and employee representatives (desirable).

Skills & Knowledge

Excellent knowledge of employment law and best practice HR.
Strong stakeholder management skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent command of the English language.
Ability to draft clear, professional, and accurate documentation.
Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
Confident in facilitating training and coaching for managers.
Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office and HR systems (iTrent would be highly desirable).

Personal Attributes

High levels of integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
Self-disciplined, reliable, and able to work under pressure.
Able to work independently and take initiative
Professional, approachable, and able to build strong relationships at all levels.
Solution-focused with the ability to balance business needs and employee concerns.
Commercial minded and solution focused.