Are you an experienced HR professional ready for your next challenge? We're looking for a proactive and people-focused
People (HR) Advisor to join our dynamic People Team in Cambridge.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering high-quality HR support across the employee lifecycle, contributing to a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
The People Advisor is responsible for providing expert HR advice and support to employees and managers across various HR-related areas. Advise and assist managers and employees with HR processes such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management, absence management, and employee development. The People Advisor will take a lead on employee relations and provide support and advice as required.
Location: Central Office in Cambridge, near Cambridge Station.
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week.
The successful Candidate will need to be able to travel to the Cambridge Office 5 days a week (with flexibility to work from home during the school holidays).
Key Responsibilities:
HR Administration & Compliance:
- Oversee employee contracts, salary administration, benefits, and leave management, ensuring timely updates and accuracy.
- Ensure job descriptions are in place for all roles.
- Manage employee attendance, absenteeism, and leave policies.
- Work with the finance department to ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll.
Employee Relations:
- Serve as the first point of contact for employee queries and concerns, offering advice on employment law, policies, procedures, and conflict resolution.
- Collaborate with managers to handle employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievances and attendance issues.
- Provide support and guidance to managers regarding employees who are on long-term sickness absence and support with return to work.
- Escalate complex cases, ACAS conciliation or employment tribunals to the People Partner.
- Support the People Partner with any change initiatives.
Employee Engagement:
- Contribute to employee engagement initiatives, ensuring employees feel valued and supported within the organisation.
Policy Implementation:
- Update HR policies and procedures that support the settings strategic objectives and provide guidance to managers on how to implement them.
- Regularly review and update the employee handbook, ensuring it reflects the school's values and current legal requirements.
HR Reporting:
- Support the collection and analysis of HR data, preparing reports on employee performance, turnover, absenteeism, and other HR metrics.
Wellbeing:
- Promote employee wellbeing programs, including mental health support, wellness initiatives, and work-life balance.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
- Champion initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within all settings.
- Ensure that hiring, promotion, and professional development practices support a diverse workforce.
Person Specification:
Education:
- CIPD Level 5 qualification is preferred or must be able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
Experience:
- Previous experience as an HR Advisor (or equivalent) including HR administration and case management.
- Strong experience of disciplinary, performance, attendance cases, including all relevant documentation and letters.
- Experience of the employee lifecycle, including onboarding and offboarding and managing new starter and leaver procedures.
- Experience of supporting employee wellbeing, including supporting colleagues who are absent due to long-term sickness or who require reasonable adjustments to be made due to health conditions or disabilities.
- Understanding of HR information systems and people data reporting.
Skills and Competencies:
- A high level of attention to detail with a sense of accountability for delivering a high standard of work.
- A self-starter, able to take ownership of important tasks and work without supervision.
- Strong proven knowledge of employment law and its application in the working environment.
- Able to build strong relationships at all levels of the organisation.
- Able to advise managers and senior managers in accordance with HR policies and procedures.
