Senior HR Advisor (People and Culture)
Location: The Deaf Academy, Exmouth
Working pattern: Full-time, permanent (all year round and term time considered, min of 41 weeks)
Help shape a truly inclusive organisation where people and purpose come together
Our people create a genuinely inclusive, values-driven culture, supporting deaf young people to thrive and achieve independence. As we continue to strengthen our People function and support organisational growth, we are recruiting two Senior HR Advisors to join our team and play a key role in supporting managers to deliver effective people management, building line manager capability, and ensuring we have the workforce capacity and skills to meet both current and future needs.
We’re seeking experienced and proactive HR professionals who combine strong operational HR delivery with a solutions-focused mindset. You will partner closely with managers across the organisation to drive performance, engagement, and organisational effectiveness. In this role, you’ll range from planning and delivering recruitment campaigns, to meeting regularly with your group of leaders to regularly review people issues, data, workforce planning, and case management.
About the Deaf Academy
The Deaf Academy is a Charity providing specialist education and care for deaf children and young adults aged 9–25 from across the UK. Many of our students have additional needs, and we are committed to providing an inclusive, bilingual environment using British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken/written English. Our staff work collaboratively across education, care and support services to help every student thrive and prepare for a confident, independent future.
About the role
This is a varied and impactful role where you will:
- Provide clear, practical HR advice across a broad range of employee relations matters
- Lead and develop recruitment and resourcing strategies
- Support workforce planning and organisational development initiatives
- Build the confidence and capability of line managers to lead their teams effectively
- Use data and insight to inform people decisions and future planning
- Act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing clear and pragmatic HR guidance
- Coach and support line managers to proactively manage people issues, performance, and attendance
- Champion inclusion, wellbeing and a positive employee experience
- Embed effective HR policies and processes, supporting managers to apply these consistently.
About you
We’re looking for a confident and credible HR professional who brings:
- Significant experience in a generalist HR advisory role
- Strong knowledge of employment law and experience managing employee relations cases independently
- Experience supporting or leading recruitment and workforce planning activities
- Proven ability to coach and influence managers effectively
- Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions
- CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent experience)
What we offer
- Work with purpose in a values‑driven Deaf education and care charity
- A varied and impactful HR role with strategic and operational exposure
- The opportunity to work closely with leaders and shape people management practices
- A collaborative and supportive HR team environment
- Ongoing professional development opportunities, learn British Sign Language and grow your HR career
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days plus bank holidays, to be taken mainly outside of term time
- A pension scheme with 8% employer contribution, and a life assurance scheme
- Opportunity for cycle to work scheme, travel ticket loans, retail discounts and other benefits
- Supportive employee assistance scheme, and regular health and wellbeing initiatives
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Free onsite parking
- Subsidised on-site lunches