Senior HR Advisor

Salary for this Role:

Salary: Circa £44,000 with benefits, subject to skills and experience.

Job Title:

Senior HR Advisor

Reports to:

Lorna Miller

Closing Date:

29/Mar/2026 23.59 GMT

Job Description:

Senior HR Advisor

Details of the role

Working pattern: This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

About us 

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy. 

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior HR Advisor to join our fast paced and supportive People Partnering team.

As a key member of the team, you will act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing expert guidance on complex people matters while helping to shape a positive and high-performing workplace. You will lead on complex casework, independently manage high-impact HR initiatives, and play an important role in driving the continuous improvement of People processes and policies.

Working closely with HR Partners and fellow HR Advisors in the team, you will be delivering both strategic and operational HR support across a diverse portfolio of research labs and operational teams. You will also support the development of the wider team by mentoring more junior colleagues, contributing to strategic planning, and championing best practice across the organisation.

This is a high-visibility and influential role that requires strong confidence, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to problem-solving and relationship-building. If you’re looking to build on your HR experience and make a meaningful impact, this is a fantastic opportunity to take the next step in your career at the Crick.

What you will be doing

You will:

• Provide expert HR advice on all aspects of the employee lifecycle, working with minimal supervision and high autonomy
• Lead on the full range of complex and sensitive employee relations cases, including investigations, hearings and appeals, ensuring best practice and consistency
• Support the People Partner with strategic and complex change initiatives, including the design and execution of restructures, reorganisations and redundancy processes
• Work in partnership with managers to proactively identifying people challenges and propose appropriate solutions in line with Crick values
• Work with the People Partner to design and deliver management training, including coaching line managers on people leadership
• Analyse workforce data to identify trends and work with the People Partner to develop people plans for your customer group
• Lead on the development and revision of policies and processes, ensuring legal compliance and practical application

Please see full job description here

About you

You will have:

• Significant experience at HR Advisor level, with evidence of working independently on complex employee relations issues*
• Strong influencing and coaching skills, with the ability and confidence to challenge constructively and build trust at all levels*
• Excellent judgment and ability to balance risk and pragmatism in HR decisions
• A track record of leading or significantly contributing to HR projects or organisational change initiatives*
• Strong analytical skills with experience translating people data into actionable insights*
• Confident communicator, able to present ideas clearly and credibly to a range of stakeholders
• Solid understanding of the complexities and HR-related challenges that come with a research or academic working environment

Minimum criteria*

About Working at the Crick

Our values  

Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture.

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. 

• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. 

• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community. 

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: karen.au@crick.ac.uk

Find out more about life at the Crick.

What will you receive?  

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development: 

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays. 

• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%. 

• Health & Well-being: 

• 24/7 GP consultation services. 

• Occupational health services and mental health support programs. 

• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans. 

• Work-Life Balance: 

• Back-up care for dependents. 

• Childcare support allowance. 

• Annual leave purchase options. 
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks: 

• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts. 

• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction. 

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.  

We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.