Purpose of the Role

The Group HR Advisor delivers high-quality, operational HR support across the full employee lifecycle. This role blends hands-on HR administration with proactive advisory support, acting as a trusted first point of contact for both managers and employees.

You will provide practical, solutions-focused guidance on a broad range of people matters, including employee relations, policy interpretation, absence management, and recruitment. The role requires sound judgement, confidence in applying HR best practice, and a strong commitment to consistency and compliance.

As a key member of the HR team, you will contribute to strengthening people practices, enhancing the employee experience, and supporting a positive, aligned organisational culture.

Reporting Line

Reporting to: HR Director

Location

Basildon
Travel to other sites as required

Key Responsibilities1. Recruitment & Onboarding

Partner with hiring managers to support workforce planning, job scoping, and recruitment activity

Coordinate end-to-end recruitment processes including advertising, screening, and interviews

Ensure a professional and engaging candidate experience throughout the hiring journey

Lead onboarding processes, including new starter inductions

Liaise with recruitment agencies and preferred suppliers

Monitor agency performance and recruitment costs

Maintain accurate recruitment records and reporting

Identify opportunities to improve recruitment and selection processes

2. Employee Relations & Policy Support

Provide timely, practical HR advice to managers and employees on policies, procedures, and people matters

Support employee relations cases including disciplinary, grievance, and absence management

Assist with investigations, minute-taking, outcome documentation, and case tracking

Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the HR Director as appropriate

Promote fair and consistent application of policies across the organisation

Support early intervention approaches to performance and wellbeing concerns

3. HR Operations & Compliance

Manage employee lifecycle administration (starters, leavers, changes) with accuracy and efficiency

Maintain and update HR systems (People HR) ensuring data integrity and compliance

Produce and analyse HR metrics (e.g. absence, turnover, engagement trends)

Support internal audits and compliance requirements

Ensure all HR practices align with UK employment legislation and company standards

4. Culture & Engagement

Support delivery and analysis of the annual Employee Engagement Survey

Work with stakeholders to implement actionable engagement initiatives

Promote company values, behaviours, and a positive working environment

Contribute to initiatives that enhance inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement

5. HR Projects & Continuous Improvement

Support the development and review of HR policies and procedures

Contribute to HR projects and cross-site initiatives

Assist with HR communications, briefings, and guidance materials

Act as an HR representative during audits or external reviews

Identify and implement opportunities to improve HR processes and service delivery

People Management & Support

Guide and support managers in applying performance, development, and attendance processes

Promote consistency, fairness, and accountability in people management practices

Support development of HR resources, templates, and toolkits to enhance management capability

Act as a role model for professional, respectful, and values-driven behaviours

Relationship Management

Build strong, trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation

Maintain effective communication with Trade Union representatives

Collaborate across departments and sites to support a unified culture

Approach all interactions with professionalism, credibility, and a solutions-focused mindset

Self-Management

Operate with integrity, discretion, and strict confidentiality

Proactively manage workload, priorities, and deadlines

Demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment

Maintain up-to-date HR knowledge through continuous learning and external benchmarking

Take initiative in identifying improvements and contributing to team effectiveness

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Proven experience in an HR Advisor, HR Coordinator, or HR Generalist role (ideally within an SME or multi-site environment)
CIPD qualified, or working towards CIPD Level 5, or equivalent practical experience
Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
Confident communicator with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels
Experience using HR systems (People HR or similar) and Microsoft Office tools
High level of professionalism when handling sensitive and confidential matters
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
Resilient, proactive, and adaptable with a positive approach
Fluent in English; additional language skills (e.g. Polish) are advantageous

Why Join Us?

Opportunity to shape and influence HR practices across a growing organisation
Exposure to a wide range of HR activities and projects
Collaborative and supportive team environment
Commitment to employee development and continuous improvement

Benefits:

Private medical insurance
Company pension
Death in service benefit
Employee retail discounts
Life insurance
Free on-site parking
Canteen facilities
You will receive 33 days holiday per year which includes a Christmas closure
You’ll have ample opportunities to grow and develop within the team, while working in a supportive and collaborative environment

Maxwell Consultancy

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Group HR Advisor