Job Title: Senior Advisor – Casework
Salary: £45,091 to £46,142
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Carlisle or Workington
Contract: Fixed-Term (9 months)
About this opportunity
This is a key role within our HR Advisory team, delivering a proactive, customer-focused and high-quality HR service across Cumberland Council. You will provide expert advice and guidance to managers and employees on a broad range of employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, Council policies and best practice.
As a trusted HR professional, you will support managers to navigate complex people issues, helping them make informed decisions whilst identifying, assessing and managing employment, operational and reputational risks.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across HR and wider corporate services, including Legal Services, Organisational Development and HR Business Partners, you will help deliver a consistent and joined-up people service. You will also build and maintain constructive and effective relationships with Trade Union representatives.
The role also includes providing day-to-day direction to HR Advisors within a matrix management arrangement, supporting the allocation and oversight of caseloads, ensuring quality, consistency and timely resolution of casework.
Key Responsibilities
- Guide and develop line managers in handling complex HR cases.
- Be the main contact for issues like disciplinary actions, grievances, performance, sickness, and settlements.
- To work as part of the HR Advisory team to provide excellent customer service to managers and employees.
- To coach and train managers on HR policies and case work
- Lead integrated approaches to casework, track performance, and implement improvements.
- Help shape and maintain HR policies and manage the people management portal system for HR Case Management.
- Support broader workforce initiatives aligned with the Council’s strategic goals.
This role is available on a fixed-term basis.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Jo Richardson by email at [email protected]
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.
- Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
- Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
- Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing [email protected]. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
Easily apply by submitting your CV and answering a few short questions
- Closing date: 22-07-2026
- Interview date: W/C 03-08-2026
If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at [email protected].”
Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.
