People Advisor

People Advisor

Location: Bristol with hybrid working (40% office based)

Salary: £36,500 to £38,000 per annum FTE

Type: Part time (28 hours per week, O.8 FTE) or Full-time (35 hours per week) Mon-Fri

Contract: Permanent

About  our  Organisation  

The Soil Association, formed in 1946, is the only UK charity which works across the spectrum of human health, the environment and animal welfare. That’s because we cannot tackle these issues in isolation.   

We campaign for change, we support farming innovation, we serve healthy food in communities, we support and grow the organic market, and we protect forests. We couldn't do any of this without our supporters, partners, donors and dedicated staff. We make a difference in the world where it’s needed the most.  

About the Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive and collaborative team, develop your career, and contribute to a purpose-driven organisation working to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.
In this newly created People Advisor role, you will support approximately 180 colleagues across a diverse range of specialist teams within Soil Association Charity, Land Trust and Exchange. Working closely with managers and colleagues, you will play a key role in delivering a proactive, people-centred HR service. Key responsibilities include:
•    Acting as a trusted advisor, providing day-to-day operational HR guidance and support to managers and colleagues
•    Supporting the full employee lifecycle, ensuring people processes are efficient, compliant and aligned with our values of being grounded, inclusive and nourishing
•    Advising and coaching managers on employee relations matters, including absence, performance and wellbeing
•    Contributing to HR projects and initiatives that enhance employee experience, organisational effectiveness and culture
•    Helping to improve HR processes, systems and ways of working, using people data and insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement
•    Working collaboratively with Finance, IT and the wider People team to ensure our practices support colleagues and the delivery of organisational goals

This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your HR experience across a varied and rewarding remit within a values-led organisation. 

About You  

We are looking for a personable, approachable, adaptable and pragmatic HR professional who will bring:
•    Broad HR generalist experience across the full employee life cycle
•    Experience of managing and advising on a broad range of employee relations cases
•    Well-developed coaching skills, with the ability to build managers’ confidence and capability by providing supportive, practical guidance on people matters
•    Strong knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application
•    Excellent communications and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate at all levels
•    Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
•    Good working knowledge of HR systems and Microsoft Office application

A CIPD Level 5 qualification is desirable; however we welcome applications from candidates who have developed equivalent knowledge and expertise through relevant experience.  Experience working in either the charity or commercial sectors is valuable and experience across both sectors would be advantageous.

Our Benefits 

We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:   

• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)  

• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service  

• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce  

• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives  

• Family friendly policies and flexible working   

• Cycle to work scheme  

• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce