Hr assistant jobs in Bristol, city of bristol

Senior People Officer – Employee Relations & Learning and Development

Part-time (21 hrs/week) | Permanent | Remote (UK-based, with occasional travel)
Salary: £39,597 (Full time equivalent)

MLC are partnering with a public sector organisation to recruit an experienced Senior People Officer to join their small, collaborative People team and play a key role in supporting managers and employees across the organisation.

This is a hands-on generalist role with lead responsibility for employee relations and learning & development. Working closely with the People Manager, you will act as a trusted adviser to managers, independently manage a varied ER caseload, and help shape a positive, inclusive and legally compliant workplace culture. You will also lead on coordinating organisational learning and development activity, supporting manager capability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be the first point of contact for employee relations matters, managing cases such as sickness absence, performance, conduct, probation and grievances
• Advise and support managers through formal processes, including investigations and hearings
• Prepare clear, high-quality HR documentation and correspondence
• Lead on planning, coordinating and evaluating learning and development activity, including mandatory training
• Provide practical HR advice across the employee lifecycle
• Support people data reporting, policy development and continuous improvement of People processes
• Develop clear internal People communications to support managers and staff

About you:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience)
• Solid experience working as an HR generalist across the full employee lifecycle
• Proven experience independently managing employee relations casework
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR good practice
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with sound judgement and attention to detail
• Confidence supporting and advising managers in complex or sensitive situations
• A strong commitment to fairness, inclusion, confidentiality and respectful working relationships

Some benefits include:

• 30 days + Bank Holidays (prorated for part time employees)
• Home working allowance of £26 per month
• Generous and encouraging Maternity and Paternity leave
• Strong flexibility around the core working hours of 10am – 4pm

This role would suit someone who enjoys balancing operational HR work with the opportunity to influence culture, capability and learning, and who is comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy in a small team.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. For any additional questions, please reach out to Annabelle at MLC Partners.

We're looking for an experienced and proactive HR Advisor to join our team on a 12-month fixed-term contract, starting as soon as possible. This role is ideal for someone who is confident working independently, enjoys building strong relationships, and can provide high-quality HR support across a regional workforce.

As our HR Advisor, you'll provide practical, people-focused guidance to managers and employees across a variety of HR areas. You'll work primarily from home, with very occasional travel to sites within the region (typically in Kent and surrounding areas)

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day HR advice on employee relations matters, policies, processes, and best practice
• Support managers with sickness, performance, conduct, and capability cases
• Guide and coach stakeholders to build confidence in managing people-related issues
• Coordinate and support HR processes including onboarding, contract changes, and employee lifecycle administration
• Work collaboratively with the wider HR team on projects and continuous improvement initiatives
• Maintain accurate HR records and ensure compliance with legislation and company policies

We're looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in an HR Advisor or similar generalist role
• Confident managing ER cases from start to finish
• Knowledgeable about UK employment law and HR best practice
• A strong communicator, able to build trust and credibility quickly
• Self-motivated, organised, and comfortable working remotely
• Ideally based in Kent or nearby for ad-hoc travel to local sites

CIPD qualification for this role is not essential.

We are the only environmental charity working across the entire length of the River Severn. Our work is bold, ambitious, and rooted in science and community action. From urban streams to remote upland headwaters, we are tackling the biggest challenges facing our rivers through restoration, education, and collaboration. 

Your Role 

As Senior River Engagement Officer, you’ll take a leading role in our Community Engagement team – designing and delivering creative programmes that connect people with rivers and inspire action for nature. You’ll manage and mentor a growing team, develop exciting new projects, and secure funding to make them happen. 

Working in one of our operational catchments, you’ll build partnerships with schools, businesses, and communities, while delivering hands-on engagement activities – from citizen science and volunteering to wellbeing initiatives and outdoor learning. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of community engagement at Severn Rivers Trust. 

What you will do 

• Lead ambitious engagement programmes – from school learning and family events to volunteering and river health monitoring. 

• Manage and mentor River Engagement Officers and freelancers, fostering an inclusive and supportive team culture. 

• Develop new projects and secure funding, turning bold ideas into real-world impact. 

• Champion nature-based solutions and river wellbeing, helping communities understand how rivers support climate resilience and biodiversity. 

• Build partnerships across sectors, working with schools, businesses, and community groups to create shared benefits for rivers and people. 

• Act as the local lead for your catchment, delivering engagement that reflects local priorities and inspires action. 

Who We Are Looking For 

This is a senior role requiring proven experience in community engagement and project management. You’ll need: 

• A strong passion for rivers, wildlife, and nature conservation. 

• Experience leading engagement programmes such as citizen science, volunteering, education, or wellbeing initiatives. 

• Confidence in managing and mentoring staff or volunteers. 

• Excellent communication skills – able to engage, inspire, and influence a wide range of audiences. 

• Strong project management skills, including planning, delivery, and monitoring of multi-strand programmes. 

• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively across sectors. 

• Willingness to travel regularly within your catchment and work occasional evenings/weekends. 

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use is essential. 

Join Bristol Animal Rescue Centre as our new Head of People and Organisational Services and play a vital role in shaping the future of animal welfare in Bristol and beyond.

Head of People and Organisational Services
Location: Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, 48-50 Albert Road, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0XA – occasional home-working may be possible subject to business requirements
Contract: Permanent 
ours per week: Part time, 28 hours per week (out of 35 hours FTE). To be worked usually within the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday with consideration of team requirements. Flexibility in hours required on occasion (e.g. trustee’s meetings 6/pa usually in evening and occasional staff and volunteer meetings outside of standard hours).
Salary: £46k – £50k per annum, pro rata depending on experience (£36,800 – £40k actual for 28 hour per week)

About Us:

Our mission is to ensure that animals in need within our community receive the compassion, care and respect they deserve. We are committed to helping, healing and homing animals for as long as they need us.

About the role:

The Head of People and Organisational Services is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation’s people strategy, volunteer programme, and core organisational services. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with Trustees and senior colleagues, the post holder ensures that the organisation has the right people, structures, systems and culture in place to deliver its mission effectively.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership across HR, volunteering, administration, customer service, safeguarding, data protection and compliance. Leading a multidisciplinary team, the post holder drives high standards of people management, employee wellbeing, volunteer engagement and organisational effectiveness, while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of People and Organisational Services contributes to organisational strategy, oversees departmental budgets, manages risk, and supports strong governance and stakeholder relationships. The role plays a critical part in fostering a positive, inclusive and values-led culture, aligned with a strong commitment to animal welfare and making a meaningful impact.

About you

• You are an experienced senior leader who enjoys working at a strategic level while staying connected to what’s happening on the ground.
• You are a confident, supportive and motivating manager who brings out the best in others and builds strong, engaged teams.
• You have a strong grounding in HR and are comfortable dealing with everything from day-to-day people issues to complex employee relations and organisational change.
• You are highly organised and adaptable, able to juggle multiple priorities across HR, volunteering, administration and customer service.
• You have a good head for compliance and governance, and you take pride in making sure organisations operate safely, fairly and within the law.
• You are comfortable working with trustees, senior leaders and external advisers, and can communicate clearly, professionally and with influence.
• You are data-informed and analytical, using insight to improve decision-making and organisational performance.
• You are innovative and forward-thinking, always looking for better ways to support people, volunteers and the wider organisation.
• You care deeply about wellbeing, inclusion and positive workplace culture, and you want people to feel valued and supported.
• You are a natural relationship-builder who works collaboratively across teams and with partners.
• You are committed to learning and professional development, keeping your skills and knowledge up to date.

Application deadline: Midnight on 1 February 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Bristol Animal Rescue Centre and Bristol A.R.C. are the working names for RSPCA Bristol & District Branch (a charity registered in England & Wales 205858) and the linked charity the Bristol Dogs and Cats Home (a charity registered in England & Wales 205858-1)

No agencies please.