Job Information
Senior People Adviser
Band 8
Flexible / Hybrid working
18-month Fixed Term Contract
Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives on making a real difference? Do you enjoy tackling complex people challenges, influencing leaders, and shaping positive workplace culture? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Senior People Adviser to join our forward-thinking People & Culture team for an 18-month fixed term contract. In this key role, you’ll provide high quality, pragmatic people advice across the organisation, supporting managers and senior leaders to deliver excellent services through their people.
You’ll play a vital part in delivering our People & Culture Strategy, ensuring our approach is legally compliant, consistent, inclusive and aligned with best practice — all while promoting pace, innovation and great customer service.
What You’ll Be Doing
No two days are the same. You’ll be:
- Acting as a trusted adviser to managers on a wide range of employee relations matters including disciplinaries, grievances, sickness absence, capability, TUPE, redundancy and organisational change
- Supporting and advising on restructures and change programmes, from planning and consultation through to implementation
- Building strong relationships with trade unions and key stakeholders, promoting open and collaborative working
- Coaching and supporting less experienced colleagues
- Designing and delivering engaging training sessions on people policies and procedures
- Contributing to the development and review of HR policies, ensuring they reflect current legislation and inclusive practice
- Using workforce insight and data to support informed decision making and service improvement
- Championing wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion across people practices
What We’re Looking For
You’ll bring:
- A Level 6 qualification (or above) in HR or equivalent senior professional experience
- CIPD membership (chartered status desirable)
- Strong, up to date knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice
- Significant experience in a generalist HR / people advisory role, confidently handling complex cases
- Excellent communication skills – able to influence, explain and simplify complex issues
- A collaborative, resilient and solutions focused approach
- Confidence working in a fast paced, changing environment
- Public sector experience is desirable, but not essential
Why Join Us?
At Northumberland County Council, people are at the heart of everything we do. You’ll be part of a supportive, values driven organisation that encourages innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. We offer flexible working, a strong focus on wellbeing, and the opportunity to help shape the future of our workforce and the communities we serve.
Ready to make an impact?
If you’re passionate about people, confident in your expertise, and excited by the opportunity to work at a strategic and operational level, we’d love to receive your application.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Jill Mertsch, Senior People Partner at Jill.Mertsch@northumberland.gov.uk
Further information
Please note that this is a full time position but applications on a secondment or part-time basis would be considered for the right applicant.
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
