5309788 – HR Officer

Job Details

Work Pattern: 37 hours per week

PAYE Pay Rate: £19.66 per hour

Main Purpose of the Role

To provide professional HR advice and support to managers, employees and schools across Cheshire East Council. The role involves managing a wide range of HR activities, including employee relations, recruitment, attendance management and HR casework, ensuring policies, procedures and employment legislation are followed consistently.

Typical Day Overview

  • Providing HR advice and guidance to managers and employees on day-to-day employment matters.

  • Managing employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance and capability procedures.

  • Supporting recruitment, selection, retention and workforce planning.

  • Attending formal hearings and advising managers on appropriate HR actions.

  • Reviewing and interpreting HR policies, procedures and employment legislation.

  • Analysing workforce data and preparing HR reports to support management decisions.

  • Supporting schools and council departments with HR issues, organisational changes and TUPE.

  • Assisting with job evaluations, policy updates and employee relations meetings.

Key Responsibilities

  • Deliver a comprehensive HR advisory service across the Council and schools.

  • Manage complex HR casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and attendance matters.

  • Advise managers on employment law, HR policies and best practice.

  • Support workforce planning, recruitment and employee retention.

  • Contribute to developing and reviewing HR policies and procedures.

  • Provide support with TUPE, redeployment and organisational changes.

  • Analyse HR data and produce reports to inform business decisions.

  • Support employee relations meetings and Joint Consultative and Negotiating Panels (JCNPs).

  • Deliver HR training, briefings and guidance to managers and employees.

  • Undertake job evaluations and ensure decisions are consistent and defensible.

Essential Skills & Experience

  • Post-qualification experience working within an HR environment.

  • Experience providing HR advice and guidance across a range of HR activities.

  • Strong knowledge of employment law and HR legislation.

  • Experience managing disciplinary, grievance and capability cases.

  • Knowledge of HR policies, procedures and employee relations.

  • Understanding of job evaluation methodologies.

  • Excellent communication, analytical and report-writing skills.

  • Ability to build effective relationships with managers, employees and stakeholders.

  • Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint.

Qualifications & Desirable Requirements

  • CIPD membership (MCIPD) is desirable.

  • Relevant HR qualification and professional experience.

  • Knowledge of local government terms and conditions of service.

  • Understanding of ACAS guidelines and employment case law.

  • Experience supporting local authority or school HR services would be beneficial.