Senior HR Advisor

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At Lanes Group nothing is more important than the health, safety and well‑being of our people and our customers. It’s a major reason we are the UK’s largest independent specialist infrastructure delivery partner of choice with a turnover in excess of £530 million (EBITDA £45 m), with over 4,000 brilliant people and a countrywide network of operational locations. Our services cover the majority of the FTSE 100 and 250.

Strong leadership is at our heart, supporting our people while ensuring they are engaged with purpose, rewarded and recognised and that we deliver absolute, exacting operational excellence. In this critical role of ensuring our organisation is known for being the best in everything we do, for leaving a legacy of absolute quality and compliance, and for keeping our promises at all times, we rely on this ability.

Reporting to the Head of People, the Senior HR Advisor plays a critical role as a strategic partner and change agent, ensuring that HR initiatives drive business success. The position is both strategic and hands‑on, working closely with operational leaders to deliver effective people solutions that align with contract objectives and business goals. The Senior HR Advisor will be a key driver of workforce engagement, performance and development across a fast‑paced, field‑based environment.

Senior HR Advisor

Customer Solutions Centre, Slough Head Office (Slough, Berkshire). Please note this role is in office only. You may be required to travel to depots on our network based in Ilford, Kidlington, Swindon, Abbey Wood, Ware, Camberley and Colnbrook.

Permanent, full‑time

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week (8:30 am – 5 pm)

£40,000 to £50,000 per annum, depending upon experience

24 days holiday (plus bank holidays); health cash plan; onsite parking; onsite restaurant; auto‑enrolment pension scheme; wellbeing support; friendly working environment.

• Strategic HR Leadership – Partner with operational managers and senior leaders to design and execute people strategies aligned with the contract’s service delivery goals. Understand the contractual, commercial and regulatory context to ensure HR interventions drive operational success. Serve as a trusted advisor to contract leadership, contributing to strategic planning, workforce optimisation and risk mitigation.
• Employee Relations & Policy Compliance – Lead complex and high‑risk employee relations cases, investigations, disciplinary actions, grievances, capability and absence management. Ensure consistent and legally compliant application of HR policies across all contract locations. Act as first point of contact for operational teams on HR policy interpretation, offering pragmatic and commercially sensitive advice.
• Workforce Planning & Talent Management – Collaborate with managers on workforce planning, forecasting and succession planning to ensure critical roles are covered. Partner with recruitment teams to attract and retain skilled talent, supporting hard‑to‑fill roles and local employment priorities. Promote internal progression and coordinate development pathways for operational and supervisory staff.
• Performance Management & Capability Building – Drive the performance review and appraisal processes across the contract, ensuring alignment with KPIs and service targets. Identify training needs and partner with L&D teams to build capability in leadership, compliance and technical excellence. Coach managers on team development, difficult conversations and day‑to‑day people management.
• Change & Transformation – Support or lead HR work streams during organisational change projects, including TUPE transfers, restructures and redundancy processes. Ensure all change initiatives are supported by clear communication, documentation and support frameworks. Champion change management best practices and cultural alignment during contract mobilisation or evolution.
• Employee Engagement & Culture – Design and deliver engagement initiatives aligned with the operational reality of the Thames Water contract. Act as a culture champion,…