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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) and over 4,000 brilliant people and a countrywide network of operational locations. Our services cover the majority of the FTSE 100 and 250 companies.
The Senior HR Advisor reports to the Head of People and plays a critical role as a strategic partner and change agent, ensuring HR initiatives drive business success across our Thames Water contract.
Position: Senior HR Advisor
Location: Customer Solutions Centre, Slough Head Office (Slough, Berkshire). This role is office only; travel to depots may be required.
Job Type: Permanent, full‑time
Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week (8:30 am – 5 pm)
Salary: £40,000 – £50,000 per annum, depending on experience
Benefits: 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays); health cash plan; onsite parking; onsite restaurant; auto‑enrolment pension scheme; wellbeing support; friendly working environment.
Responsibilities
* Strategic HR Leadership
o Partner with operational managers and senior leaders to design and execute people strategies aligned with the contract’s service delivery goals.
o Understand the contractual, commercial, and regulatory context to ensure HR interventions drive operational success.
o Serve as a trusted advisor to contract leadership, contributing to strategic planning, workforce optimisation, and risk mitigation.
* Employee Relations & Policy Compliance
o Lead complex and high‑risk employee relations cases, including investigations, disciplinary actions, grievances, capability, and absence management.
o Ensure consistent and legally compliant application of HR policies across all contract locations.
o Act as the first point of contact for operational teams on HR policy interpretation, offering pragmatic and commercially sensitive advice.
* Workforce Planning & Talent Management
o Collaborate with managers on workforce planning, forecasting, and succession planning to ensure critical roles are covered.
o Partner with recruitment teams to attract and retain skilled talent, supporting hard‑to‑fill roles and local employment priorities.
o Promote internal progression and coordinate development pathways for operational and supervisory staff.
* Performance Management & Capability Building
o Drive the performance review and appraisal processes across the contract, ensuring alignment with KPIs and service targets.
o Identify training needs and partner with L&D teams to build capability in leadership, compliance, and technical excellence.
o Coach managers on team development, difficult conversations, and day‑to‑day people management.
* Change & Transformation
o Support or lead HR workstreams during organisational change projects, including TUPE transfers, restructures, and redundancy processes.
o Ensure all change initiatives are supported by clear communication, documentation, and support frameworks.
o Champion change management best practices and cultural alignment during contract mobilisation or evolution.
* Employee Engagement & Culture
o Design and deliver engagement initiatives aligned with the operational reality of the Thames Water contract.
o Act as a culture champion, ensuring contract‑wide values and behaviours are upheld and integrated into HR processes.
o Conduct pulse surveys, focus groups, and exit interviews to identify areas for improvement and action planning.
* Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
o Promote inclusive hiring, development, and progression practices across field and office‑based staff.
o Ensure compliance with equality legislation and support managers in ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace.
o Collaborate with central HR to drive wider DEI goals across the business and contract.
* HR Data, Analytics & Reporting
o Leverage people data, dashboards, and workforce metrics to drive evidence‑based decisions.
o Monitor trends in absenteeism, attrition, performance, and engagement; make proactive recommendations to leaders.
o Prepare regular and ad‑hoc HR reports for internal stakeholders and client reviews as required.
* Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
o Work closely with wider support functions (Payroll, L&D, Recruitment, Occupational Health, Legal) to ensure cohesive HR delivery.
o Partner with employee representatives or unions (if applicable) to maintain productive working relationships.
o Represent HR at contract governance meetings, audits, and reviews with Thames Water stakeholders where required.
o Be aware of all Lanes Group policies and your responsibilities towards them.
o Any other reasonable ad‑hoc duties, tasks or projects as requested by management.
Qualifications
* Minimum of 2 years HR Advisor experience.
* Experience in delivering on HR projects and working to tight deadlines.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
* Ability to deal with people at different levels and support multiple operating teams.
* Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 and HRIS.
* Resourceful, proactive, able to multi‑task, prioritise, work under pressure and independently.
* Versatile in fast‑paced environments.
* Strong influencing skills and passion for embedding core values.
* Preferably CIPD accredited (not essential but advantageous).
Your Contribution to the Company
* Strive to be positive and constructive.
* Adhere to all company policies.
* Be straightforward in discussions; open discussion leads to solutions.
* Communicate clearly and help others.
* Deliver on commitments.
* Propose ideas that enhance productivity or system efficiency.
* Live the Company Values; work together as ‘Stronger Together’.
At Lanes Group, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that our differences make us stronger and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees. Join us in our commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse world.
Lanes Group is a signatory of the ‘Charter for Employer Positive About Mental Health’ run by Mindful Employer.
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