Human Resources Advisor

Role overview

This position is based at the Lockerbie site, with regular travel required across the wider hub, including Annan, Workington, Durham, Hetton and Gateshead. The role sits within the HR Business Partnering team and is focused on delivering practical, high-value HR support to staff and local leadership teams. You will help drive the organisation’s growth agenda while working in line with the CARE values: Collaboration, Ambition, Respect and Excellence.

The work is varied and fast-moving, so you should be comfortable shifting between different sites, operational areas and leadership teams across the group, including sawmills, pallets and packaging operations.

What the role involves

You will act as the first point of contact for HR advice and guidance, supporting a wide range of people-related activities such as recruitment, onboarding, training, employee relations case handling, leadership development and organisational development. You will also partner closely with HR Services to make sure transactional HR administration is efficient, accurate and completed on time for your sites.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as a dependable adviser to managers and employees, giving clear guidance and ensuring policies and procedures are interpreted and applied correctly.
• Keep a strong focus on employee relations, talent management and organisational development.
• Help strengthen employee engagement and collaborative working, including engagement with staff representatives and/or trade unions.
• Work with HR Services to ensure administrative HR processes are complete, accurate and prioritised where they affect payroll.
• Support people managers to build confidence and capability in managing their teams effectively.
• Contribute to the review and improvement of policies, guidance and working practices that help colleagues succeed.
• Support operational HR projects that reinforce the aim of becoming an employer of choice in the sector.
• Stay current with employment law and HR best practice so emerging changes can be anticipated and managed proactively.
• Represent and demonstrate the organisation’s values through behaviours that encourage diverse thinking and support wellbeing.
• Work alongside Health & Safety colleagues to support a joined-up safety culture focused on both physical and mental wellbeing.
• Be prepared to work on site each day; occasional home working may be possible, but this is primarily an onsite role.

Candidate profile

The organisation is looking for someone with solid generalist HR experience across the full employee lifecycle, including case management and compliance with UK employment law. You should bring a proactive, hands-on approach, a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to high standards in HR practice.

Strong relationship-building skills are important, along with the ability to influence and motivate people at all levels to support a positive workplace culture. You should be comfortable working independently and also as part of a wider remote HR team.

A CIPD qualification at Chartered Member level is preferred, or you should be willing to work towards it. A degree, or equivalent qualification, is also expected. Regular travel across the regional hub is required.

Eligibility

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship and hold a full UK driving licence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary in the range of £38,000 to £43,000, depending on experience.
• 33 days of holiday.
• Employer pension contribution of 11%, with an employee contribution of 4% plus salary sacrifice.
• Annual bonus based on company and individual performance.
• Health and wellbeing support, including remote GP access, mental health support and free physiotherapy.
• Access to an employee discount platform covering retail and leisure.
• Life assurance cover of up to four times salary.

About the company

James Jones & Sons Ltd is a fifth-generation family business and one of the UK’s largest and most progressive timber processing companies. Its operations span timber harvesting, sawmilling, pallets and packaging, and distribution. The business operates from 27 sites across the UK, 23 in Australia and 2 in New Zealand, employing more than 2,100 people.

In the UK, the company runs seven sawmills, an engineered wood manufacturing plant and 14 pallet and packaging operations. It produces British-grown timber for construction, landscaping and agricultural use, market-leading JJI-Joists for housebuilding and construction, and pallets and packaging for major domestic and exporting customers.

Why join

• Join a respected and innovative business that is helping lead sustainable timber processing.
• Work in a collaborative, supportive environment where ideas and contribution are valued.

Application information

To apply, send your CV and covering letter by email. No agencies, please.

Additional information

Benefits package includes a competitive salary, 33 days holiday, 11% employer pension contribution, 4% employee contribution plus salary sacrifice, an annual bonus subject to performance, health and wellbeing services, an employee discount platform, and life assurance of up to 4x salary.

The role requires travel to other locations within the hub: Annan, Workington, Durham, Hetton and Gateshead. Although occasional working from home may be possible, the expectation is to be on site every day.

The company’s core values are Collaboration, Ambition, Respect and Excellence.