HR Consultant
Department: Business & Professional Risk
Reporting to: Senior HR Consultant
Office: Regional UK Office
Overview
The organisation works across both business and wider society, combining professional expertise with a commitment to social and environmental impact. Fairness, clarity and collaboration are central to its approach, helping clients navigate complex challenges and develop effective solutions.
With offices across the UK and Ireland and an international reach, the organisation operates across multiple sectors including health, real estate and construction, education, energy and infrastructure, financial services, government, insurance, manufacturing and industrials, and retail and logistics.
The firm is committed to developing talent at all levels and from diverse backgrounds. It promotes inclusion, social mobility and diversity, recognising that the profession benefits from a wide range of perspectives. Employees are supported through meaningful personal and professional development opportunities, flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on wellbeing.
The organisation is also a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants.
Role Purpose
This role provides client-focused, comprehensive and pragmatic HR advice and support to schools and academies in line with their policies, procedures and legal requirements. Delivering high-quality HR consultancy services is a core component of the organisation’s offering to education clients.
The role also supports senior members of the HR team in developing HR consultancy services within the education sector.
Working within a team of legal and HR specialists with extensive experience in the education sector, the role focuses on helping clients make informed and responsible decisions that support both their organisations and the communities they serve.
The role requires building strong relationships with clients and colleagues, delivering pragmatic and sector-focused advice aligned with best practice. It also contributes to achieving departmental objectives and supporting sustainable business growth.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide a solution-focused HR advisory service to clients across a full range of complex employee relations and HR issues.
* Deliver exceptional client service, ensuring client needs remain central to all activities.
* Identify and maximise new business opportunities and support their successful completion.
* Maintain awareness of sector developments and legislative changes to ensure advice remains compliant and relevant.
* Lead on ad-hoc client projects across the full range of generalist HR activities, including workplace investigations.
* Manage complex casework and provide advice via telephone and email support services.
* Delegate tasks to and supervise HR Advisors where appropriate.
* Support pitch and tender presentations for prospective clients.
* Develop and deliver training sessions for clients.
* Draft and update precedent documentation reflecting legislative changes and sector developments.
* Conduct collaborative reviews of existing documentation to ensure compliance and best practice.
* Represent the organisation at conferences and professional events.
* Contribute written content such as blogs and advisory articles for organisational publications and sector platforms.
* Build trusted advisor relationships with allocated clients and manage annual service renewal discussions.
* Manage client matter files, ensuring time recording and fee management processes are followed.
* Participate in discussions relating to outstanding client invoices where necessary.
* Accurately record all time spent on client activities in accordance with internal time recording policies.
This is a client-facing, fee-earning role within a professional services environment.
Technical Skills and Experience
* Associate CIPD qualified (or equivalent).
* Up-to-date knowledge of HR best practice and a strong understanding of employment law in practice.
* Experience supporting business development activities.
* Proven experience managing complex HR casework including disciplinary, grievance, capability and harassment matters.
* Experience working with or negotiating with trade unions is desirable.
Skills and Attributes
Successful candidates will typically demonstrate:
* Evidence of ongoing professional development as an HR practitioner (experience in the education sector is advantageous but not essential).
* Ability to generate and develop business opportunities through networking and pitching activity.
* Experience collaborating on the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures.
* Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex information.
* Confidence in preparing and delivering presentations, briefings and written reports.
* Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills across professional and operational boundaries.
* Integrity, credibility and the ability to build trust when providing advice to clients and stakeholders.
* Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and demanding workloads.
* Experience acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
* A proactive and innovative approach to improving HR services and developing new solutions for clients.
* Confidence working independently, researching issues and supporting informed decision-making.
* A commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.