Senior People Advisor
Location: North of England
Salary: £35,000-£40,000
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday
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We are looking for an experienced and commercially aware Senior People Advisor to join our expanding People team.
This role will suit someone who has strong employee relations experience and enjoys partnering with managers to navigate complex people issues. You will operate as a trusted advisor, managing a varied case load, supporting organisational change activity and contributing to the delivery of People initiatives across the business.
Working closely with People Business Partners and senior operational leaders, you will provide practical, risk-based advice while helping to drive consistency, compliance and positive employee experiences across a large and geographically dispersed workforce.
Why join Ground Control?
Do work that matters - The advice and support you provide will help shape decisions that impact employees and managers across the organisation. From managing complex employee relations matters to supporting organisational change activity, your expertise will contribute directly to maintaining a fair, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
Broaden your impact - This is an opportunity to work across a wide range of people matters, including complex employee relations cases, TUPE activity, restructures, policy implementation and People projects. You will have the scope to influence outcomes, improve processes and support business objectives.
Be recognised as a trusted advisor - You will build strong relationships with managers at all levels, providing balanced, commercially focused advice that helps them manage their teams effectively while minimising business risk.
Develop others - As a senior member of the team, you will provide guidance and support to People Advisors and Coordinators, sharing your knowledge and helping to build capability across the wider People function.
Drive continuous improvement - You will play an active role in identifying opportunities to improve processes, documentation, manager capability and employee experience. Your ideas and expertise will help shape how the People team supports the business.
What you will be doing
A significant part of your role will involve leading on complex employee relations matters, coaching managers and supporting strategic People activity.
Your responsibilities will include:
Managing complex disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability and performance cases from initiation through to conclusion
Providing commercially focused advice to managers on a wide range of employee relations matters
Coaching and developing manager capability in the application of People policies, procedures and best practice
Supporting organisational change programmes including restructures, TUPE transfers and consultation activity
Supporting the delivery of People projects and initiatives across the employee lifecycle
Producing high-quality HR documentation, including outcome letters, reports, consultation documentation and contractual correspondence
Identifying potential employment law, employee relations and reputational risks and escalating where appropriate
Supporting managers with probation, performance management and talent discussions
Reviewing HR documentation and processes to improve consistency and compliance
Maintaining accurate employee records and case management documentation
Analysing trends and recurring themes to support proactive People interventions
Providing guidance and support to People Advisors and People Coordinators where required
Working collaboratively with People Business Partners and wider stakeholders to deliver business objectives
Contributing to policy reviews, process improvements and continuous improvement initiatives
What we are looking for
You will have substantial experience within a People Advisor or Senior People Advisor role and be confident managing a broad range of complex employee relations matters independently.
You will also need:
Strong experience managing disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance management, absence and organisational change cases
A sound understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice
Experience supporting TUPE transfers, consultation activity and business change processes
Excellent judgement and the ability to balance commercial needs with employment risk
The ability to influence, challenge and coach managers constructively
Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
Excellent written communication skills and experience producing high-quality HR documentation
Experience analysing information and making evidence-based recommendations
The ability to manage competing priorities within a fast-paced environment
Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
Experience using HR systems and maintaining accurate employee records
Advanced Microsoft Office skills
CIPD Level 5 qualified or equivalent practical experience (CIPD Level 7 desirable)
Experience supporting or mentoring junior HR colleagues would be advantageous
Benefits
Competitive salary aligned with your skills and experience
Pension scheme
Recognition and reward programmes
Private GP service
Life insurance
Subsidised gym membership
Holiday buy scheme – purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave
About Ground Control
Ground Control is a leading external maintenance and environmental services business, supporting customers across utilities, infrastructure, rail, construction, commercial property and public services.
As a certified B Corp, we are committed to using business as a force for good and creating a fair, inclusive and supportive workplace. Our People team supports a large and geographically dispersed workforce, providing a diverse range of opportunities to develop expertise across employee relations, organisational change, business partnering and strategic People initiatives.
If you are an experienced HR professional who enjoys solving complex people challenges, building strong relationships and delivering practical, commercially focused advice, we would be pleased to hear from you.
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Equal Opportunities Statement
At Ground Control, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010.
We actively support and promote an inclusive culture, ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process and across all stages of employment, including training, development, promotion, pay, and termination. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees, and to creating a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation.
We expect all colleagues to uphold our values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discriminatory behaviour and are committed to continuous improvement through training, inclusive policies, and accountability at all levels.
