Universities Superannuation Scheme (Ltd)
HR Advisor
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HR Advisor
Place of Work: Liverpool
Contract Type: Permanent
When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.
Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.
About the role
In your role as HR Advisor, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to provide professional first-line HR advice and support to managers and employees, managing routine and low-complexity people matters while delivering specialist HR operational activities. The role acts as the bridge between HR Administration and the HR Business Partner team, ensuring consistent policy application, effective case management and a high-quality employee and manager experience.
What you will be doing
As a trusted part of the HR team you will be responsible for:
HR Advisory & Manager Support
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Act as the first point of contact for managers and employees requiring HR advice and guidance.
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Provide advice on the interpretation and application of HR policies, procedures and employment practices.
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Support managers in managing employee matters consistently, fairly and in line with company policy.
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Manage low-complexity employee relations matters, including:
- Support the management of sickness absence cases, providing advice on policy application, trigger points and appropriate next steps.
- Coordinate probationary review processes, supporting managers with outcomes and next-step recommendations.
- Manage flexible working applications, supporting managers and employees through the process and providing recommendations in line with policy.
- Informal performance discussions
- Occupational health referrals
- Parental Leave
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Ensure consistent application of policies, procedures and employment practices.
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Escalate complex, sensitive or high-risk employee relations matters to the HR Business Partner team.
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Provide guidance and coordinate parental leave arrangements, including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
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Support sensitive absence cases, including bereavement and other exceptional circumstances, ensuring a compassionate and consistent approach.
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Manage retirement requests and provide guidance on associated HR processes.
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Coordinate secondment arrangements and associated contractual documentation.
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Support complex leaver activity, including senior leadership and executive-level departures.
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Specialist HR Operations
- Coordinate Occupational Health referrals and ensure recommendations are appropriately managed and communicated.
- Support immigration-related activities and maintain compliance with relevant legislation and company processes.
- Process and coordinate senior hire onboarding activities, liaising with stakeholders to ensure a smooth joining experience.
- Manage external appointment requests and associated approval processes.
- Support organisational reporting requirements, including statutory and internal reporting.
- Compile and submit Office for National Statistics (ONS) surveys and other regulatory returns.
- Undertake data uploads and bulk system updates, including salary review and annual pay review processes.
Governance, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure all activities are completed in line with employment legislation, company policies and governance requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, case documentation and employee data.
- Monitor recurring queries and themes, identifying opportunities to improve processes, guidance and manager self-service.
- Support implementation of HR initiatives, policy changes and operational improvements.
- Contribute to the development of HR guidance materials, templates and manager toolkits.
- Support Audit and Risk activity.
About you
We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.
To be successful in the role you will have:
- Strong knowledge of HR policies, procedures and employment practices, with experience providing first-line HR advice and guidance to managers and employees.
- Experience managing HR advisory activities
- Proficient in the use of HR systems and employee data management
- Sound understanding of employment legislation, GDPR, confidentiality requirements and HR governance standards.
- Strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving skills
Why join us?
At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!
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How we will reward you
- Great starting salary
- Generous annual leave package
- Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
- Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
- Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
- Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
- Cycle to Work Scheme
Our culture and values
Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Excellence
About us
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk
USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.
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