An exciting opportunity has arisen at Eton College for a passionate and motivated HR Advisor to come and join our dedicated HR Department. This is a generalist role focusing on employee relations, onboarding, recruitment, reward and learning and development activities.
As HR Advisor you will work within a team of five HR generalists supporting the non-teaching departments within the school (approximately 650 staff). The client group consists of a diverse range of operational roles ranging from chefs, housekeepers and gardeners, to building surveyors, IT and Finance professionals. The role involves a heavy employee relations caseload and requires a ‘hands-on’ approach, coaching line managers through all aspects of people management.
Reporting to the HR Manager you will take responsibility for designated client groups; however, you will also provide support across the entire non-teaching population. You will have a true generalist remit and you will be involved in employee relations, recruitment, reward and learning and development activities. At all times you will operate as a ‘critical friend’ to your client groups and provide proactive guidance and support.
This permanent position is full-time, 52 weeks per year. As this role is integral in meeting the needs of our College community it will be office-based 5 days per week. Our welcoming office sits in the heart of Eton Colleges historical buildings and amidst beautiful surroundings, benefiting from subsidised lunches and glorious lunchtime walks!
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious HR Advisor; Eton College prides itself on a warm and friendly community, where staff are valued.
Due to the needs of the school and the department, we may interview suitable candidates before the closing date. This job may also close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.
BenefitsEton College offers a wide range of benefits, including an 11% employer contribution to your pension (with 4.9% employee contribution), Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced Maternity / Paternity scheme, a cycle to work scheme, subsidised lunches during term time, free or heavily discounted access to the College’s sport and leisure facilities and discounts at local retailers and businesses.
Main Duties
Operating as a trusted advisor to key stakeholders within your client group, providing pragmatic, proactive, and commercially viable advice, support and guidance.
Managing employee relations casework in a robust and human manner, ensuring staff are dealt with fairly and consistently under the College’s procedures for discipline, grievance, absence management, capability etc.
Building effective working relationships with staff at all levels, providing advice and guidance on a range of HR policies and HR related issues to support understanding and ensure effective communication of good HR practice.
Ensuring that information contained on the HR Information system is up to date and accurate at all times.
Handling pay and job changes throughout the year, ensuring that relevant paperwork is completed and accurately recorded, and that timely information is sent to line managers and the staff involved.
Working with other members of the HR team on reward activities, such as annual salary review, and the provision of relevant HR metrics and reports.
Working with the Recruitment Team to ensure your departments have the appropriate staff in place, and undertaking appropriate pre-employment checks to ensure we comply with the required school-specific legislation around recruitment.
Preparing appropriate contracts for the many and varied work patterns that exist at the College and reflecting changes in updated contractual paperwork.
Dealing with queries from staff, ensuring a timely and supportive response is provided.
Supporting the effective induction of employees and appropriate exit interviewing.
Ensuring that you are a regular, visible, presence to your stakeholders.
Working with the HR & L&D Manager on appropriate learning interventions.
Undertaking other relevant duties as and when required to any client group, including teaching client groups where necessary. This may involve supporting employee relations activities (disciplinary, grievance etc.), recruitment (e.g. interviewing and other selection activities) and reward (e.g. the annual salary review process).
Undertaking and/or/leading on designated HR projects;
Continually looking for ways to improve and standardise what we do, recommending areas of opportunity and proposing solutions – from letters, policies and processes to evolving our staffing structures.
Keeping up to date on best HR practice and employment law developments.
Commitment and promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion;
All positions at Eton are classed as ‘regulated activity’ as per the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 guidance, therefore a good understanding of safeguarding procedures is essential;
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including but not limited to, completing safeguarding training as required, and ensuring any safeguarding updates issued by the College are read and understood;
Understand and comply with procedures and legislation relating to confidentiality.
Working Pattern
Your working hours will be 35 hour per week, 09.00-17.00, Monday – Friday.
You will be working 52 weeks per year.
You will be entitled to 5.6 weeks annual leave.
The Ideal CandidateTo be successful in this role, the incumbent should be able to demonstrate:
Experience of working as an HR generalist including advising line managers on HR matters such as recruitment and selection, disciplinary investigations and outcomes, grievances, capability issues, flexible working and managing sickness absence.
Sound knowledge of UK employment law (including immigration and right to work requirements) and evidence of applying this knowledge.
Experience of managing restructures and change projects.
Experience of working in a large complex and fast-paced environment.
Good IT skills, including use of the Microsoft Office suite of applications.
Experience of using and maintaining HRIS.
Strong numeracy and literacy skills.
Ideally you will also have a CIPD qualification Level 7 or be working towards this qualification.
In addition to your experience, the role may be for you if:
You’re a great communicator – you enjoy engaging with a variety of different people, you’ll always try to meet face to face or pick up the phone rather than email, and you are able to convey complex information in a way that’s easy to understand.
You have a ‘can-do’ attitude – you love getting stuck in and you’re not phased by a heavy volume of work and fast changing priorities.
You’re confident to use your own initiative, but you also know when to ask for help and guidance.
You’re naturally resilient and able to deal with ambiguity and change.
You’re flexible – you’ll have to juggle lots of competing tasks so you’ll enjoy having lots of different things on the go, and you’re able to organise your time and to prioritise your to do list so nothing slips through the cracks.
You have an eye for detail – you will be key to making sure our data is accurate and that we’re completing all of our recruitment checks, so you will be comfortable working in the detail and following processes.
You’re happy to get stuck in and handle the administration and less glamorous tasks, as well as the more complex and visible ones.
You continually look for ways to improve systems and processes – we’re keen to evolve and keep improving what we do, so you’ll continually question the status quo and actively search for ways we can be more efficient and effective.
You enjoy working in a team – we’re a small team and we enjoy spending time together. We support each other as much as we can meaning we get involved in lots of different tasks, you’ll be keen to operate in the same way we do, and you’ll volunteer to get involved.
About The CollegeWe are an equal opportunities employer and are seeking applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
If you have any queries about the application process or any problem with submitting your application online, the Recruitment Team will be happy to help. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made or facilities provided to enable you to apply online, please do not hesitate to contact us on recruitment@etoncollege.org.uk so we can make adjustments accordingly.
DISCLOSURE CHECKS
Eton College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to, reference checks with past employers, an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List information), an online search and, where applicable, Prohibition checks. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or Code of Practice published by the DBS. The College is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would nor
