Senior HR Advisor – Employee Relations & Development (Maternity Cover) to £48,000pa

We are delighted to be partnering with a highly respected and well-established professional services firm in the Southampton area to recruit a Senior HR Advisor – Employee Relations & Development on a maternity cover contract to run until December 2027.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional to join a forward-thinking organisation, delivering a first-class HR service across the business. The successful candidate will provide commercially focused and value-added HR support, whilst acting as the firm's subject matter expert in employee relations and employment law.

The position requires strong technical HR expertise, sound judgement, and the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels. The role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with working hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the firm's internal expert on UK employment law.
• Lead and manage a broad range of employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, capability, flexible working, and absence management matters.
• Provide expert guidance and risk-based recommendations to Partners and line managers, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and internal policies.
• Prepare and review investigation reports, case documentation, correspondence, and outcome letters.
• Promote the early resolution of workplace issues through proactive intervention and coaching.
• Review, update, and draft HR policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with legal requirements, best practice, and organisational objectives.
• Support managers and employees by providing clear guidance on HR-related matters and wellbeing initiatives.
• Lead and coordinate the onboarding and probation process, ensuring a positive and professional experience for new employees.
• Manage the employee lifecycle from onboarding through to exit, including conducting exit interviews, analysing trends, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Oversee the trainee qualification programme.
• Act as the primary HR contact for trainees, providing ongoing support, guidance, and wellbeing assistance.
• Ensure mandatory, compliance, and professional development training is delivered effectively, efficiently, and within budget.
• Design and deliver training sessions, presentations, and HR guidance where required.
• Partner with the HR Manager and EDI Partner to coordinate inclusion initiatives, awareness campaigns, webinars, and development events.
• Support the management of the firm's Mental Health First Aider programme.