Advice & Support Lead – Human Resources
Hours: 37 Hours Per Week
Contract: Temporary (1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027)
Location: County Hall, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG
Start Date: 1 October 2026 – ASAP
Rate: PAYE £20.66 per hour
Work Pattern: Monday – Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
We're recruiting an Advice & Support Lead to join a HR team within Derbyshire County Council. This is a specialist advisory role, ideal for candidates with strong employee relations, attendance management and employment legislation experience, particularly those confident in advising and influencing managers within a complex organisation.
About the Role
As an Advice & Support Lead, you'll provide professional HR advice and guidance to managers across employee relations, sickness absence, employment legislation, policies and procedures. You'll manage complex cases from initial advice through to resolution, provide customer-focused support, and work collaboratively with HR Business Partners, Legal Services, Health, Safety and Wellbeing, and other key stakeholders.
What You'll Be Doing
- Providing professional HR advice and guidance to managers on employee relations, sickness absence, employment legislation, policies and procedures
- Managing employee relations and attendance cases from initial advice through to resolution
- Providing clear, consistent and customer-focused advice, including support with statements of case and decision and appeal meetings
- Working closely with HR Business Partners, Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Legal Services and other stakeholders on complex or high-profile cases
- Supporting Employment Tribunal and internal appeal processes, including independent case management where appropriate
- Identifying and escalating complex cases and providing additional support through case conferences where required
- Contributing to the review and development of employment policies and supporting guidance, ensuring compliance with legislation and organisational requirements
- Supporting the development and delivery of manager workshops, coaching and training on HR policies and procedures
- Sharing employment best practice, lessons learned and emerging HR developments across the HR function
- Contributing to continuous service improvement and the professional development of the wider HR team
- Maintaining strong awareness of changes in employment legislation, policy and HR best practice
Requirements
- Relevant degree or equivalent qualification in Human Resources, or CIPD Level 5/equivalent, supported by relevant HR experience
- Proven experience advising and influencing managers on employment policy, procedure and employee relations within a complex organisation
- Strong knowledge of employment legislation and associated HR policies and practices
- Experience managing complex cases and workloads to defined deadlines and targets
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
- Strong relationship-building and collaborative working skills
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Ability to work independently, use initiative and take a proactive, results-focused approach
- Strong judgement, resilience, sensitivity and diplomacy when handling complex or confidential matters
- Experience contributing to HR policy development and service improvement
- Desirable: Experience within a local authority or similarly complex public-sector environment
- Desirable: Experience supporting Employment Tribunal and appeal processes
- Desirable: Experience in consultation, negotiation and conflict management
- Desirable: Experience developing and delivering HR coaching, workshops or training for managers
- Desirable: Experience working with Legal Services, Trade Unions or senior management teams
- Desirable: Awareness of wider developments and emerging best practice within the HR profession
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to make a direct impact across employee relations and attendance management
- Varied and challenging casework with meaningful outcomes for employees and managers
- Opportunity to work alongside HR Business Partners, Legal Services and senior stakeholders
- Chance to contribute to HR policy development, service improvement and manager development
- Competitive hourly rate
- Valuable experience within a complex public-sector HR environment
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
- Temp-to-Perm Opportunities
Candidate Requirements
- Eligible to work in the UK
- 5 Years References/Work History
- Basic DBS
- Driving Licence
Order Number: 5303948
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £20.66 per hour
Application question(s):
- Do you have proven experience advising and influencing managers on employee relations, employment policies, procedures and legislation?
Experience:
- HR Advisory: 5 years (required)
- HR Business Partners: 1 year (required)
- HR policy development: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- driving licence (required)
- Basic DBS (required)
- CIPD Level 5/equivalent (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
