Senior HR Advisor

About The Role

Are you an experienced HR professional looking for an opportunity to make a real impact during a period of significant organisational change?

We're looking for a proactive and knowledgeable Senior HR Advisor to join our HR & Corporate Services team at Forest of Dean District Council. This is an exciting opportunity to provide expert HR advice and support to managers across the organisation while playing a key role in shaping the workforce through one of the most significant changes in local government in recent years.

Working closely with the Head of HR & Corporate Services, you'll provide professional advice across a wide range of employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance cases, absence management, performance issues, organisational change, consultation processes and workforce transition activities. You'll also help to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring our employment practices remain fair, transparent and compliant with legislation and best practice.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be involved in supporting the Forest of Dean District Council through Local Government Reorganisation, including workforce transition planning, consultation activities and employee transfers under TUPE arrangements. It's an exciting time to join the organisation and contribute to meaningful change that will shape the future of local government in Gloucestershire.

If you currently work for a local authority, we are also happy to consider applications on a secondment basis, subject to agreement from your current employer.

This is a hybrid role, offering a balance between home and office working. However, due to the collaborative nature of the role, the successful candidate will be required to work from our Coleford office for a minimum of three days per week, with the remaining time worked remotely where appropriate.

About you...

We’re looking for someone who

Is CIPD qualified (or working towards CIPD Level 5) with substantial HR experience.

Has strong employee relations experience and a good understanding of employment law.

Is confident advising managers on complex HR matters and organisational change.

Can build positive working relationships with colleagues, managers and trade union representatives.

Has excellent communication skills and is comfortable managing a varied caseload.

Thrives in a collaborative environment whilst also being able to work independently

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

Special Conditions

Use of a car for work purposes

BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard check)

Vacancies can close earlier than stated if a high number of applications have been received. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.

Applying through a job board? Don't worry – when you click to apply, you'll be redirected to our careers website to complete your application. This ensures your details are submitted securely, through our official recruitment system, and helps protect candidates from applying to roles that may no longer be live on third-party websites.

What we can do for you

Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working

Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)

27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service

In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice

Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care

Generous contributory local government pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars

Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

About The Organisation

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity.

We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.