People & Culture Advisor

Improve International was established in 1998 by a group of veterinary surgeons from across the UK.We run Continuous Professional Development training from veterinary professionals to help develop the skills and knowledge required in practice.

Our programmes utilise a combination of review lectures, case-based discussion and, where applicable, hands-on practical sessions.

Within Improve we also have the function of ‘The International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS)’.This function is dedicated to providing veterinary surgeons, nurses and technicians with high quality, achievable qualifications that are recognised internationally.

We are an international organisation with offices in the UK and Portugal.

Our People team operates as a centralised global function supporting approximately 250 employees across seven countries.

The People & Culture Advisor – UK will act as the primary day-to-day People contact for the UK, supporting managers and employees across the full employee lifecycle while ensuring consistent, compliant and effective People practices.

The role will provide practical advice on employee relations, performance, absence, family leave and organisational change, while coordinating key UK People processes including payroll, benefits, recruitment, employee data and HR systems.

Working closely with the Global Head of People & Culture, the postholder will manage routine and moderately complex employee matters independently, escalating higher-risk cases where appropriate.

The role will also support the integration of newly acquired businesses. Previous exposure to M&A, business integrations and/or TUPE would therefore be particularly valuable.

This role is suited to a proactive HR professional with good UK employment-law foundations who is ready to develop greater ownership and advisory responsibility within a fast-paced, growing international organisation.

• Act as the first point of contact for UK managers and employees on day-to-day People matters.
• Advise managers on absence, performance, capability, conduct, probation, flexible working, family leave and other employee relations matters.
• Manage routine and moderately complex employee relations cases, ensuring fair, consistent and well-documented processes.
• Coach managers through employee meetings and People processes, escalating higher-risk matters where appropriate.
• Prepare relevant employee correspondence and case documentation.

• Oversee the UK employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to changes in employment and exit.
• Ensure employment contracts, changes to terms and other employee documentation are accurate and issued appropriately.
• Support probation, internal moves, promotions, family leave and other employee lifecycle events.
• Work with managers to deliver effective onboarding and offboarding and identify opportunities to improve the employee experience.
• Coordinate monthly UK payroll inputs and changes, ensuring accuracy, approvals and timely submission.
• Review payroll outputs, investigate exceptions and liaise with the external payroll provider.
• Maintain appropriate payroll controls and documentation.
• Act as a key contact for UK employee benefits and contribute to periodic reviews of benefits and market practice.

• Support UK recruitment from vacancy approval through to offer and onboarding.
• Work with hiring managers to clarify role profiles and support effective selection processes.
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements with relevant internal and external partners.
• Support workforce changes arising from business growth, restructuring and acquisitions.

• Support People activity relating to…