HR Advisor

Description:

Location: Dukinfield, Greater Manchester – on-site
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £35,000–£40,000 per annum, depending on experience

About Northpoint
Established in 1976, Northpoint is an employee-owned business specialising in protective and decorative coatings. From our Dukinfield facility, we provide powder coating and wet paint services for customers across sectors including water, oil and gas, marine, defence and infrastructure.

We take pride in the quality of our work and in understanding what our customers need. Our values include responsible working, fair business practices and opportunities for our people to learn and develop.

Job purpose
To provide day-to-day HR advice and support across Northpoint’s factory operation. The HR Advisor will manage core people processes, maintain accurate HR records and systems, and support managers in applying policies fairly and consistently. You will be the first point of contact for routine HR matters, escalating complex or higher-risk issues to senior management and external HR support.

Key responsibilities

Employee relations and manager support

Guide managers and employees on HR policies, procedures and routine employment matters

Support managers with sickness absence, attendance, probation, performance and conduct issues, ensuring meetings, records and follow-up actions are completed

Advise managers on disciplinary and grievance procedures, including preparing documents, coordinating meetings, taking notes and maintaining case records

Monitor case progress and identify delays, inconsistencies or matters needing escalation

Refer complex cases, potential dismissals, discrimination concerns and other significant risks to senior management and external HR support

HR administration and systems

Maintain accurate, confidential employee records and keep the HR system up to date

Prepare employment documents from approved templates, including contracts, change letters, probation correspondence and leaver documentation

Monitor key dates, including probation reviews, training renewals, leave and right-to-work follow-up checks

Record and review absence and attendance, produce reports and highlight trends or outstanding actions to managers

Collate and check payroll information, including starters, leavers, contractual changes and absence, by agreed deadlines

Keep secure records of HR meetings and formal processes

Recruitment, onboarding and agency workers

Coordinate recruitment administration, including vacancy documentation, interviews, candidate communication and offer paperwork

Complete pre-employment and right-to-work checks for directly employed staff

Coordinate onboarding, inductions and offboarding, including documentation and system updates

Liaise with recruitment agencies on worker supply, onboarding information, site requirements and people-related issues

Obtain and maintain agreed assurance and records for agency workers, with Northpoint and agency responsibilities clearly documented

Policy and process improvement

Support consistent application of HR policies and procedures

Identify gaps in records, processes or manager guidance and recommend improvements

Assist with policy updates, employee communications, training coordination and HR projects

Keep up to date with changes in employment practice and refer proposed policy or legal changes for review

Working relationships and decision-making
This is a standalone HR role, with the HR Advisor acting as Northpoint’s main day-to-day HR contact. You will work closely with factory managers, senior management, employees and recruitment agencies, with external HR support for complex or higher-risk matters.

You may manage routine HR processes and give procedural advice within agreed policies. Factory managers remain responsible for managing their teams and operational decisions. Formal employment decisions, including disciplinary outcomes and dismissals, remain with the appropriate Northpoint manager. The escalation and approval process for complex cases will be agreed with senior management and external HR support.

Person specification

Essential

Experience in a generalist HR role, including practical support with employee relations matters

CIPD Level 3 or above, progress towards a relevant CIPD qualification, or equivalent demonstrable HR knowledge and experience

Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR procedures, with the judgement to recognise when specialist advice is needed

Experience supporting managers with sickness absence, attendance, performance and conduct processes

Experience maintaining accurate HR records and using an HR information system

Strong written communication, organisation and attention to detail

Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately

Ability to manage competing priorities and build effective relationships at all levels

Desirable

Experience in manufacturing or another operational, shift-based environment

Experience coordinating agency workers and liaising with recruitment agencies

Experience completing right-to-work checks, preparing payroll information and producing HR reports

Familiarity with BrightHR and Blip, or comparable systems

Interested?
Apply with your CV and a brief outline of your experience and we will be in touch