Job Description

Role: Senior HR Advisor (Temporary)Duration: 3 month interim assignmentPurpose: Cover for staff absenceLocation: Hybrid working with base at Oldham (Spindles offices), with travel to client sites across Oldham borough as required

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior HR Advisor to provide short-term support to our HR Advisory team during a period of staff absence. The successful candidate will support a portfolio of schools across Oldham, as well as a partner care organisation, delivering professional and pragmatic HR advice across a broad range of employee relations and workforce matters.

This is a hands-on role requiring an experienced HR practitioner who can quickly integrate into the team, manage their own caseload, and operate with minimal supervision from day one.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality HR advisory support to headteachers, school leaders, managers and senior stakeholders.
• Manage a varied caseload of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, performance/capability, probation and restructuring cases.
• Advise on terms and conditions of employment, policies, procedures and employment legislation.
• Support managers through formal HR processes, including preparation for and attendance at hearings and meetings where required.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and legally compliant case records.
• Deliver practical, solution-focused advice that supports positive employee relations and organisational outcomes.
• Build effective working relationships across schools and the partner care organisation.

Essential Requirements

• CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum, Level 7 desirable).
• Significant experience operating at Senior HR Advisor level or equivalent.
• Strong and up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Extensive experience managing complex employee relations casework independently.
• Experience advising managers and senior leaders with confidence and credibility.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and quickly gain confidence in a new environment.

Ideal Experience

• Experience working within education and/or local government environments.
• Experience supporting schools and advising headteachers.
• Experience working with care sector organisations would be advantageous.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a confident, resilient and proactive HR professional who can "hit the ground running", take ownership of cases from the outset, and provide trusted advice with minimal supervision.