Summary: The Senior HR Advisor role is a 12-month fixed-term position based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, focused on providing high-level HR support across dual UK locations during maternity cover. The position involves harmonizing HR practices and facilitating the integration of two regional HR functions while delivering comprehensive support throughout the employee lifecycle. The role requires a hands-on approach to ensure compliance with UK employment legislation and effective management of employee relations. The ideal candidate will possess strong HR expertise and interpersonal skills to build relationships across the organization.
Key Responsibilities:
- Review, update, and maintain HR policies in line with UK employment law and best practice
- Lead scheduled policy reviews, coordinating stakeholder input, approvals, and implementation
- Develop supporting materials such as guidelines, templates, and FAQs
- Provide expert, first-line HR advice to managers and employees on policy application, absence, conduct, and performance
- Support and manage employee relations activity including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, and absence management, ensuring consistency and fairness
- Coordinate end-to-end recruitment processes
- Partner with hiring managers to deliver fair, objective interview processes and a positive candidate experience
- Ensure effective onboarding and induction for all new starters
- Maintain accurate recruitment records, trackers, and metrics
- Maintain accurate employee records within the HR Information System (Workday), ensuring GDPR compliance
- Track training completion and support compliance reporting
- Extract, analyse, and report HR data using Workday and Google Suite to identify trends and support decision-making
- Support HR-led initiatives including organisational change and integration projects
- Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes and systems
- Build trusted, professional relationships across the organisation through confident and clear communication
Key Skills:
- CIPD Level 5 qualification (or working towards) or equivalent experience
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
- Demonstrable experience supporting or managing a range of employee relations cases (disciplinaries, grievances, absence)
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build credibility at all organisational levels
- High proficiency in HR data management and reporting (e.g. Workday)
- Willingness to work across multiple locations, Shawbury base with travel to other locations
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: Shrewsbury
Country: UK
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: HR
Senior HR Advisor (Fixed Term – Maternity Cover)
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire with regular travel to other locations
Contract: Fixed Term Contract – 12 months
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Senior HR Advisor The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced site based Senior HR Advisor to join a complex, operational organisation on a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. This is a pivotal, hands-on role providing high-level HR support across dual UK locations.
A primary focus of the role will be supporting the HR Business Partners in harmonising HR practices and facilitating the successful integration of two regional HR functions, helping to build a cohesive, high-performing HR team.
The Senior HR Advisor will deliver comprehensive, professional HR support across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring all processes are efficient, accurate, and fully compliant with company policy and UK employment legislation.
Senior HR Advisor Key Responsibilities
- Policy, Governance & Employee Relations
- Review, update, and maintain HR policies in line with UK employment law and best practice
- Lead scheduled policy reviews, coordinating stakeholder input, approvals, and implementation
- Develop supporting materials such as guidelines, templates, and FAQs
- Provide expert, first-line HR advice to managers and employees on policy application, absence, conduct, and performance
- Support and manage employee relations activity including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, and absence management, ensuring consistency and fairness
- Recruitment & Onboarding
- Coordinate end-to-end recruitment processes
- Partner with hiring managers to deliver fair, objective interview processes and a positive candidate experience
- Ensure effective onboarding and induction for all new starters
- Maintain accurate recruitment records, trackers, and metrics
- HR Systems & Data Management
- Maintain accurate employee records within the HR Information System (Workday), ensuring GDPR compliance
- Track training completion and support compliance reporting
- Extract, analyse, and report HR data using Workday and Google Suite to identify trends and support decision-making
- Organisational Development & Project Support
- Support HR-led initiatives including organisational change and integration projects
- Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes and systems
- Build trusted, professional relationships across the organisation through confident and clear communication
Senior HR Advisor Essential Criteria
- CIPD Level 5 qualification (or working towards) or equivalent experience
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
- Demonstrable experience supporting or managing a range of employee relations cases (disciplinaries, grievances, absence)
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build credibility at all organisational levels
- High proficiency in HR data management and reporting (e.g. Workday)
- Willingness to work across multiple locations, Shawbury base with travel to other locations
Senior HR Advisor Desirable
- Experience in a generalist HR role within a fast-paced, global, mixed-matrix organisation
- Experience supporting HR change, harmonisation, or integration activity
Senior HR Advisor Additional Requirements
- Eligibility for DBS and Security Clearance (SC)
- Ability to meet Export Compliance Regulations
- Legal right to work in the UK
Values & Compliance
This role requires a strong awareness of compliance, confidentiality, and integrity, with a commitment to acting ethically and professionally at all times.
Apply now to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity.
