Senior HR Advisor

Job description

Make a Real Impact

Bevan Brittan is a leading commercial law firm. Alongside our recognised expertise in housing, local government, and health and social care, we are specialists in the construction, energy and resource management, higher education and financial services sectors.

Supported by our valued business services professionals, our award-winning and growing legal teams provide almost 2,000 organisations with commercial, corporate, property, finance, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and clinical negligence) legal and advisory services.

As a responsible business, we embrace four values: Relationships, Reputation, Responsible and Results. These give us a sense of purpose. They influence the decisions we make and how we work with each other. Importantly, they motivate us to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and the communities that we're part of.

Consistently recognised as one of The Times Best Law Firms and highly ranked across the legal directories, we are proud of our hard-earned reputation. Our 2025/26 financial results confirmed both revenue and profit growth for a thirteenth consecutive year, ensuring our ability to continue investing in our people.

Looking to the future, we're targeting ambitious growth and success. And we're looking for the best people to be part of it.

Join a team of experts and progressive thinkers

We are looking for a pro-active, engaged and adaptable Senior HR Advisor to join our HR team on a full-time and permanent basis. This is a fantastic time to join Bevan Brittan's HR team. The business is growing and there will be plenty of opportunity to make a difference for someone who is flexible, keen to learn, contribute and work collaboratively with colleagues across the entire employee life cycle.

The role

The role will report to our HR Business Partner (HRBP) and work closely with the wider HR team, including Senior HRBPs, HR Advisors and the HR Operations Manager.

You will be based in our Bristol office. We operate a hybrid working model, providing colleagues with the equipment and support needed to work effectively from home. Most members of the HR team choose to attend the Bristol office one to two days per week, although there is flexibility depending on business and individual needs.

In this role you will:

• Partner with our Senior HRBPs and HRBPs as well as the wider HR team to provide a high quality, pro-active and solutions-focused generalist HR service to the firm.
• Lead and advise managers on a wide range of employee relations and people management matters, building management capability and confidence.

• Work closely with the HR Operations Manager on HR projects, process improvements and the escalation of complex people matters where appropriate.

• Partner with the HRBPs to ensure consistency in approach.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR processes, policies and practices, working closely with the HR leadership team to enhance service delivery and efficiency.

• Actively support our Responsible Business Programme, which encompasses Diversity & Inclusion, Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Sustainability.
• Play a key role in the firm's salary review, promotion and bonus processes, making recommendations as appropriate.
• Support, coach and mentor more junior team members as appropriate.
• Be responsible for ensuring that Bevan Brittan's new starter induction is kept up-to-date and be the main lead for its delivery to all new starters.

• Support colleagues and managers through family leave processes, including maternity meetings and associated documentation.

• Actively monitor and analyse attendance, and coach managers to manage this appropriately, including Occupational Health referrals. Flag cases of potential concern to the HRBP's.
• Carry out key processes in the employee life cycle such as exit interviews.
• Lead our monthly payroll process for the whole firm, which involves preparing detailed payroll instructions for our outsourced payroll provider.
• Support the firm's annual appraisal and ongoing performance management processes for your business areas, increasing engagement where needed.

• Experience analysing HR data and trends to inform recommendations and support decision-making.

• Build effective relationships with your allocated business areas and proactively seek to offer advice and support.
• Help to deliver bespoke internal HR training to meet the needs of the business.
• Support business continuity for the firm as required.

What we are looking for from you

• Previous experience operating at Senior HR Advisor level, or as an experienced HR Advisor within a partnership or professional services environment looking to progress into a more senior role.
• Proven ability to influence, challenge and coach managers effectively while building trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation.

• CIPD qualified (or have equivalent experience) with up-to-date working knowledge of current employment law and HR best practice.
• The ideal candidate will have worked in the legal sector or other professional services environment.
• A collaborative team player who works with others effectively.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills, able to prioritise and manage multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities.
• Someone who takes ownership of issues; pro-active in terms of finding solutions to problems / queries.
• Positive, results-focused and a flexible approach. Willing to get stuck in and support others on the team.

• Able to build effective relationships across all levels of the business, establish personal credibility and have the confidence to have challenging conversations where necessary.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance people considerations with business objectives and risk management.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence and capability cases.

Work with approachable people

When we ask colleagues what makes Bevan Brittan a great place to work, the most popular thing they say is "the people". The overwhelming consensus is that we make time for each other. We welcome questions and support each other. Naturally, we look for new colleagues who align with our values.

Supported to be your best

Hybrid working

We operate a hybrid working model based on the needs of our clients, teams and people. Our core business hours are 9am - 5:15pm Monday to Friday, but we're open to our people working more flexibly around those times and welcome a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. We try to offer you the flexibility to work your week in a way that suits you.

Learning, Development & Progression

We're committed to supporting your professional and personal development needs.This means that we offer a range of tailored training courses and you will have lots of opportunity to learn from those around you. We actively encourage progression and this is reflected in our annual review and promotion processes. You will be supported by your line manager to achieve your full potential.

Wellbeing

As a Bevan Brittan employee, you'll have access to a variety of services that support your wellbeing. We've pledged our commitment to The Mindful Business Charter and lots of our people contribute to our Wellbeing Responsible Business strand, which organises an annual calendar of wellbeing events and initiatives.

Benefits

• A minimum of 25 days holiday (plus the option to buy up to an additional 5 days)
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Private medical insurance through Vitality
• Biennial private health assessment through Nuffield Health
• Life assurance
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Embracing our differences and valuing inclusion

Our shared aim is that everyone is welcome and can feel comfortable being themselves at Bevan Brittan. To support this, we actively value and promote equality, diversity and inclusion in everything that we do. You'll be empowered and supported through our employee led networks, diverse colleagues, and a broad range of firmwide initiatives.

Recognising the unique contributions that a diverse workforce can bring to our business, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We take great pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or have any questions, please get in touch with our recruitment team by emailing [email protected]

Acting responsibly, now and for the future

To us, being a responsible business is second nature; a core part of Bevan Brittan's identity. Our colleagues are heavily involved in shaping and delivering activity across the four pillars of our Responsible Business strategy : Community Engagement; Environmental Sustainability; Equality, Diversity & Inclusion; and Wellbeing.

Our people deliver pro bono legal work for charities and not-for-profit organisations. We play an active role in our local communities and donated £100,000 across our four regional office charities last year. We are also proudly carbon neutral. We've achieved the UN's Climate Neutral Now accreditation and our environmental sustainability plan focuses on achieving our net zero carbon target by 2040.

Collectively, the four pillars ensure we look after our colleagues' wellbeing; offer an environment in which everyone can progress on merit, give something back to the communities in which we work; and protect the environment.