SYNLAB UK & Ireland
Senior Human Resources Advisor
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Senior HR Advisor - FTC 6 Months
Based full time on site (5 days per week) - Pathology First, Basildon
Job Overview
We’re looking for an experienced Senior HR Advisor to join our HR team in Essex, providing expert, pragmatic HR advice across the organisation and acting as a trusted partner to managers and senior stakeholders.
This is a varied and influential generalist HR role, giving you the opportunity to take ownership of complex employee relations matters while also supporting organisational change, workforce planning, performance, attendance and wider people initiatives.
You’ll be a key source of HR expertise within the team, confidently advising and coaching managers through challenging people matters, from complex disciplinary and grievance cases through to capability, absence, restructuring, redundancy and redeployment. You’ll also build strong and constructive relationships with Trade Union representatives and contribute to positive employee relations across the organisation.
Working closely with the Senior HR Manager, you’ll have the autonomy to manage your own workload and caseload, contribute to HR projects and policy development, and step up to provide senior HR support when required.
If you’re ready for a role where your judgement, influence and HR expertise can directly shape how people matters are managed, we’d love to hear from you.
This is a full-time, office-based role working 5 days per week, with the expectation that you will travel to other SYNLAB sites as required. The role offers the opportunity to work across different locations and build relationships with a wide range of managers and stakeholders across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior HR Advisor, you’ll provide a high-quality, comprehensive HR service across the organisation, working closely with managers, senior leaders, employees, HR colleagues and Trade Union representatives.
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You’ll take ownership of a varied and often complex caseload, providing trusted advice, professional challenge and practical solutions across:
- Employee Relations – advising and coaching managers through complex disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance, bullying and harassment cases, including formal hearings and appeals.
- Employment Law & Policy – providing expert guidance on employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice to support fair, consistent and well-informed decision-making.
- Organisational Change – supporting managers through restructuring, consultation, redundancy and redeployment processes, while maintaining positive employee and industrial relations.
- Management Support & Coaching – building managers’ confidence and capability through advice, coaching, training and briefing sessions on key HR processes and people management.
- HR Projects & Policy Development – contributing to HR projects and the development and review of employment policies and procedures.
- Recruitment – working alongside the recruitment team to provide professional advice and ensure vacancies are filled efficiently and in line with good recruitment practice.
- HR Information & Reporting – analysing HR information to identify trends, support decision-making and improve areas such as performance and sickness absence.
- Partnership Working – developing constructive relationships with managers, senior stakeholders, employees and Trade Union representatives to support effective resolution of people matters.
Essential Criteria
- CIPD Level 5 qualification or above.
- Graduate CIPD membership or higher.
- Significant experience working in an HR Advisor/Senior HR Advisor or equivalent role.
- Substantial experience of managing employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and/or attendance matters.
- Experience of advising managers on the application of employment law, HR policies and procedures.
- Experience of working with and advising managers on complex people issues.
- Current knowledge and understanding of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
- Demonstrable ability to provide clear, practical and persuasive HR advice to managers.
- Demonstrable ability to manage and prioritise a varied HR caseload with a high degree of autonomy.
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Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working in an NHS or healthcare environment.
- Experience of advising managers at formal disciplinary, grievance, capability or attendance hearings.
- Experience of organisational change, including redundancy and/or redeployment.
- Knowledge of Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
- Knowledge of NHS employment policies and procedures
About SYNLAB
SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to provide a complete pathology offering.
We operate in increasingly diverse environments which is reflected in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities and partners. We believe an inclusive workplace culture is the best way to source, attract and retain diverse and talented people, and create a sustainable, high-performing workforce.
We believe our staff is vital to the principle of making a positive difference to healthcare, therefore, we promote a culture of continuous personal development where scientists and staff have the support and resources to acquire new skills and build their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching and clear career pathways.
We promote an open and collaborative culture where leaders act as role models and facilitate a two-way communication, engage with staff and stakeholders transparently and actively encourage feedback and suggestions.
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