Human Resources Adviser - Kempston

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is entering an exciting period of change as we strengthen our people offer and move towards an HR Business Partnering model. As part of an upcoming internal restructure, the job title will change in the coming months, reflecting this move.

We are looking for an experienced Human Resources Adviser to join our team. You will play a key role in supporting managers and employees by providing professional, consistent and legally compliant HR advice. You will work closely with managers at multiple sites across the county, on a wide range of employee relations matters and with a particular focus on the management of sickness absence cases.

You will also contribute to the development, review and implementation of HR policies and procedures, support organisational change initiatives, and help ensure that best practice is applied consistently across the Service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviewing, developing and implementing HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment legislation, best practice and national and local agreements.
• Providing professional HR advice and guidance to managers on sickness absence, attendance and wider employee relations casework, including discipline, grievance, performance and equality issues.
• Providing general HR advice and support on policy and legislation interpretation.
• Managing complex sickness absence cases, including liaison with Occupational Health and supporting the ill-health retirement process where required.
• Supporting organisational change initiatives, including re‑organisation and changes to terms and conditions, and advising managers on consultation, redundancy and redeployment.
• Delivering training, advice and guidance to managers on HR policies, procedures and legislative changes.
• Undertaking job evaluation using the Korn Ferry (formerly) HAY system and advise relevant managers and individuals of results.
• Supporting recruitment, promotion and selection processes as required.

About you

You will be an experienced HR professional with significant employee relations expertise and demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law. You will be confident in advising managers on complex and sensitive casework, supporting fair, consistent and timely outcomes.

You will have:

• CIPD level 7 qualification (or equivalent) or demonstrable equivalent experience.

• In-depth HR experience, including policy formulation, organisational change and advising managers.

• Proven knowledge in the field of Employment Law, HR and Employee Relations best practice.
• Evidence of advising managers carrying out formal investigations (e.g. disciplinary, grievance and bullying and harassment) including the production of written investigation reports and attending formal hearings.

• Evidence of excellent communication skills both verbal and written including the ability to train and give presentations to different audience levels and the ability to transform complex information and legislation into Service policies and procedures.

• Evidence of excellent organisational skills and a logical approach.

• Evidence of effective negotiation and influencing skills.

• Full driving licence (manual or automatic) with no pending issues as there is a requirement to travel to different sites across the county.
• Ability to work flexibly, including outside normal working hours when necessary, to support a service that operates at all times.

For more details about the key responsibilities and essential criteria required for the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Next steps

If this role is of interest, please visit our website for further information and to make a formal application. We ask that you include your full career history and reference your skills and experience in line with the job description and person…