HR Adviser

1x Permanent vacancy - Policy, Reward and Relations Team 

(Full Time 37 hours per week)

1x 12 Month Fixed Term vacancy - Operational Casework Team 

(Full Time 37 hours per week)

We’re looking for two passionate and experienced HR Advisers to join two teams within our People and Culture Directorate at Devon County Council.

We have a permanent, full-time vacancy within our Policy, Reward and Relations Team and a 12-month fixed term, full-time vacancy in our Operational Casework Team.

Please clearly indicate within your application whether you wish to be considered for one or both vacancies.

Our HR Adviser vacancies fall within two teams within People and Culture:

Our newly formed Policy, Reward and Relations Team. You will undertake a varied role, working to deliver business as usual and transformational activity. Delivering against our People Strategy, you will play a critical role in delivering under the Voice and Belonging themes and will work with colleagues to contribute to the wider People Strategy.

We are in a transitional period with a need to modernise our terms and conditions and policy approach and have high ambition to make a real impact across our workforce. As an HR Adviser, you will play a crucial role in developing a new approach to policy development and work on how we embed our policies across the organisation, ensuring they align and reflect the direction of travel and mindset. Your role will involve you working closely with our Trade Unions to foster collaborative relations and ensure our policies and guidance are fit for the future.

The team have responsibility for essential business as usual activity including statutory reporting, such as Data Transparency and Gender Pay Gap reporting.

Our Operational Casework Team. The team has a strong operational presence, providing advice and guidance on many HR and employee relations issues across Devon County Council and to Schools. Demands are high due to the challenges the Council currently faces, but this provides the opportunity for HR Advisers to work in partnership with our customers to enable them to pragmatically resolve their HR issues, which can be complex, and support them in delivering crucial services to our communities and Schools.

The role requires highly effective communicators, who are customer focused, able to manage a caseload or strategic project, work autonomously and flexibly, as well as part of a team. We are seeking individuals with a ‘can do’ attitude who will be able to fit quickly into our existing teams and can offer a range of HR experience and knowledge.

Whilst experience of working with local government, schools or NHS terms and conditions would be helpful, we are interested in hearing from you whatever your HR background. As we are currently undergoing significant change in DCC, experience in change programmes including restructures and TUPE would be particularly advantageous.

Who you are

We are looking for highly skilled and experienced HR professionals with a proven track record of delivering HR solutions and working effectively as part of a team. We are looking for candidates who; 

• Are self-motivated and driven 
• Can conduct benchmarking and market analysis to effectively inform decision making
• Have highly effective research skills with ability to interpret and apply to organisational objectives
• Bring attention to detail with the ability to analyse and effectively harness HR data, while always considering the use of technology to ensure efficiency
• Are customer focused, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills which build effective relationships 
• Think creatively, with the ability to turn ideas into tangible outcomes 
• Have strong written skills with an ability to communicate clearly and concisely, in a way that fosters understanding 
• Can work collaboratively with Trade Union colleagues to achieve desired outcomes
• Are effective communicators and negotiators
• Can work in an agile way to support changing demands

Our offer to you

Working for Devon County Council delivers all the benefits you would expect from a large employer including:

• Incremental pay increases within your grade
• Generous annual leave and other holiday entitlements along with flexible working
• Entry into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discount schemes