People Team Advisor

The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is hiring a part-time People Team Advisor to support employee relations, including managing grievances, performance issues, and HR policy development. The role requires HR expertise and offers a hybrid working model (50/50) across multiple locations in the UK. Candidates should have CIPD Level 3 or equivalent experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a passion for fostering a positive workplace environment.
Salary - 37,405 - 45,596 pro rata
Hybrid working (50/50)
Permanent, Part time
Location: Wallingford, Bangor, Lancaster, Edinburgh.
Closing date for applications, 16th June 2025. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

Are you a seasoned HR professional with a passion for fostering positive workplace relationships and driving organisational excellence?

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Advisor to join our dynamic team. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to contribute to our mission of delivering world-class environmental science while supporting a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

At UKCEH, we value integrity, teamwork, and continuous learning. Our People Strategy emphasises excellence through collaboration, and we are committed to the professional development of our staff. As an Employee Relations Advisor, you will play a key role in advising on a broad range of employee relations matters, including sickness absence management, disciplinary procedures, grievance handling, and performance management. Your expertise will help ensure that our HR policies and practices align with current employment legislation and best practices.

Your main responsibilities will include:
• Providing expert advice and guidance to managers on employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, absence management, and performance issues, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies.
• Supporting managers in handling complex casework, including investigations, hearings and appeals, offering pragmatic and legally compliant solutions.
• Providing advice and support to managers and employees on UKCEH HR policies, procedures and best practices, fostering a positive employee experience.
• Supporting the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures in line with employment legislation and organisational needs.
• Assisting managers in resolving workplace conflicts and fostering a positive working environment.
• Leading or supporting HR projects focused on enhancing employee engagement, well-being, and organisational culture.
• Providing training and coaching to line managers on HR processes, policies, and best practices.

For the role of Employee Relations Advisor, we're looking for somebody who has:

Knowledge & Qualifications:
• CIPD Level 3 or equivalent experience
• Strong understanding of employee relations, employment law and best practices in HR case management.
• Proven experience working with HR systems, processes and driving continuous improvement.
• Interest and enthusiasm for HR and employee engagement initiatives.

Experience/Proven Abilities:
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases, including sickness absence management, performance management, investigations, grievances, and disciplinary matters.
• Ability to manage a varied workload, regularly reviewing priorities to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to take responsibility for tasks within a project or service.
• Strong administrative skills, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail in HR processes.

Skills:
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to support and coach managers through sensitive and challenging situations.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities and balance regular monthly tasks, quarterly results, and ad hoc projects.
• Strong IT proficiency, with experience using SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to handle personal data with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Experience using Workday (desirable)

You'll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that's committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years' service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...

Apply today!

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a covering letter that highlights any qualifications, skills or experience you believe are relevant to this role.

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone-regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance-has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process-please don't hesitate to reach out. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we'd love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.

We welcome applications from international candidates; however, at present, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.