Act as the lead HR consultant for a portfolio of clients, providing proactive, commercial and solution-focused HR guidance.
Build strong, credible relationships with business owners, directors and senior leaders, operating as a trusted advisor.
Support clients to align people practices with organisational strategy, operational demands and commercial objectives.
Confidently challenge client assumptions or proposed actions, clearly articulating legal, employee relations and business risk, and offering viable alternatives.
Anticipate people-related risks and opportunities, offering insight-led advice rather than purely reactive solutions.
Employee Relations & Complex Case Leadership
Lead and manage complex and high-risk employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, dismissal, redundancy, restructuring, TUPE and formal consultation processes.
Oversee investigations, hearings, appeals and settlement discussions as required, ensuring consistency, fairness and legal defensibility.
Provide clear, pragmatic guidance to management teams during sensitive or critical situations.
Act as a senior escalation point for complex or contentious matters within the consultancy.
Employment Law & Legislative Expertise
Maintain in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law, case law and upcoming legislative change.
Proactively advise clients on new and emerging employment legislation, translating legal change into clear, practical business actions.
Identify legal, procedural and reputational risk within client organisations and recommend proportionate, compliant solutions.
Act as an internal subject-matter expert on employment law and best practice.
Policy Development, Governance & Risk
Lead the review, drafting and implementation of bespoke HR policies, procedures and frameworks.
Support clients with audits of HR practices, identifying gaps, inconsistencies or compliance risks.
Produce high-quality written advice, documentation and management information suitable for Boards and senior leadership teams.
Training, Development & Thought Leadership
Design and deliver HR and employment law training for line managers and leadership teams.
Facilitate workshops, webinars and briefings tailored to client needs and operational realities.
Contribute to thought leadership activity, client communications or content aligned to legislative or people-management trends.
Consultancy Contribution & Leadership
Support and mentor junior consultants, sharing knowledge and promoting high standards of professional practice.
Work closely with the Director of HR & Operations on project delivery, service development and continuous improvement.
Contribute to client retention, referrals and identification of new consultancy opportunities.
Manage workload and client priorities independently in a fast-paced consultancy environment.
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
Significant experience in a senior generalist HR role, either within consultancy or a demanding in-house environment.
Proven capability in handling complex employee relations and employment law matters.
Strong, current knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
Experience advising and influencing senior leaders and business owners.
Exposure to SME, multi-site or operationally intensive sectors desirable.
Skills & Attributes
Confident, credible and able to challenge constructively with professionalism and tact.
Commercially astute, balancing legal compliance with business realism.
Highly self-motivated and organised, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Resilient, adaptable and comfortable working at pace in a consultancy environment.
Requirements
CIPD Level 5 minimum; Level 7 strongly preferred.
Ongoing commitment to professional development, particularly in employment law.
Special Conditions
Regular UK travel to client sites required; full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle essential.
Flexibility to support client needs outside core hours where required.
REF-228 827
Additional Information
Reporting To: Director of HR and Operations
Purpose of Role
As a Senior HR Consultant, you will operate as a highly trusted, autonomous advisor to a diverse portfolio of client organisations, delivering strategic, commercially focused and legally robust HR advice across the full employee lifecycle.
This is a senior, client-facing role suited to an experienced HR professional who is confident working with minimal supervision, able to exercise sound judgement, and comfortable constructively challenging client decisions where there is legal, ethical or commercial risk.
You will lead on complex employee relations matters, guide clients through evolving employment legislation, and play a key role in strengthening long-term client relationships and the consultancy's reputation for high-quality, pragmatic HR support.
Absolute Works · Barford