Principal Employment Relations Advisor

Job Category : Human Resources

Location :Halton Borough Council

Hours Per Week : 37.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:30

Salary: £19.81

Halton Borough Council is embarking upon an exciting change management process.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Principal Employment Relations Advisor to join our Human Resources Operations Division for 12 months.  This important and high profile role will provide advice and guidance on all aspects of employment relations matters to school leaders, governors and business managers under a Service Level Agreement. Reporting to the Employment Relations Service Manager this role will work independently within a Local Authority environment. You will work in an established team of Employment Relations Advisors and Principal Advisors, be a team player and key asset in advising on all ER matters.

The role requires the post holder to have proven HR experience in general with a solid background of dealing with employment relations matters, ideally within a Local Authority or educational establishment/environment.  You should have a strong knowledge of school terms and conditions of employment and issues affecting school staffing arrangements . You will have the ability to juggle a busy caseload, with experience of coaching and advising Head Teachers and Governors on all ER issues and organisational change.  You should also have experience of working on employment related projects in line with policy and procedures, best practice and employment legislation.

You will be able to deal with and manage a varied and challenging workload which will include including advising and supporting at internal employment hearings and appeals.   In addition you will manage and proactively review both long and short term sickness cases, including occupational Health/ill health retirement.

The policies and procedures you should have experience in include investigatory processes, disciplinary, Grievance, Bullying & Harassment etc,.  You will also provide support to managers and Schools on all organisational change projects including TUPE, restructures and redeployment.

Key Duties 

1          Provide a human resources advisory service to management, head teachers and elected members to enable the Council and its schools to be compliant with statutory requirements and adhere to agreed Council policies and procedures. 

2          Ensure a team of staff deliver an effective, efficient and cohesive human resources service to a specific directorate ensuring that all obligations under employment and statutory timescales are met and all staff are fully aware of current issues. 

3          Advise on differing terms and conditions of employment and contractual issues including their interpretation and application.

4          Develop and negotiate changes to human resources policies in response to legislative changes and other initiatives to ensure that policies, procedures and practices are compliant.

5          Advise and support management in negotiations and consultations with recognised trade unions, including attendance at formal consultation meetings.  

6          Liaise with Council solicitors on employment matters particularly in relation to termination and matters which may result in claims to an Employment Tribunal to ensure the Council is fully protected in such matters.

7          Design and deliver human resource related training to employees, managers, administrative staff, elected members, head teachers and school governors to ensure legislative and best practice is adhered to.

8          Undertake specific work as directed by management to achieve the desired outcomes of a project or report.

9          Attend corporate, directorate, regional and national meetings and steering/working groups, including evening meetings to represent the Human Resources Division

10        Liaise with external organisations to promote joint working.

Experience 

Experience of advising managers on terms and conditions of service, including pay and pensions.

Partnership working

Design and delivery of training events

Experience of interviewing, particularly at a senior level

Experience of working collaboratively with trade unions, managers, head teachers, elected members, school governors and external groups

Experience of policy development and review

Experience of dealing with formal procedural issues, such as disciplinary, grievance, capability, bullying and harassment, TUPE, etc.

Skills & Abilities 

Ability to produce clear written briefs and reports and present these to managers, elected members, etc

Interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)

Ability to produce clear written briefs and reports and present these to managers, elected members, etc

Ability to interpret complex legislation and information

Ability to monitor and continuously improve systems, processes and procedures 

Negotiating and persuasion skills 

Develop all areas of human resources working

Ability to be organised and systematic in approach to work

Ability to work to independently, to tight timescales and to prioritise own workload

Undertake formal presentations