HR Business (HR Advisor Level)

HR Business (HR Advisor Level) Littlehampton, West Sussex | £32,000 - £36,000 + Benefits The Opportunity A well-established engineering and manufacturing organisation is seeking a hands-on HR professional to become the lead HR presence at its Littlehampton site. Following a sustained period of growth and investment, the business is looking for an experienced HR Advisor-level professional who can provide practical, operational HR support while helping introduce greater structure, consistency and continuous improvement across the site. Reporting directly to the HR Manager and working within a small but highly visible HR team, this is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys autonomy, building relationships with managers and making a genuine impact within a manufacturing environment. This role would suit an HR Advisor, HR Officer or experienced HR Coordinator seeking a broader position with increased ownership, responsibility and influence. The Role This is far more than a traditional HR Advisor position. You will act as the primary HR contact for the Littlehampton site, partnering closely with operational and production leaders while supporting a diverse employee population. You'll have the opportunity to influence processes, improve systems and establish yourself as a trusted advisor across the business. As part of a small HR function, you'll gain exposure to the full employee lifecycle and play a key role in both day-to-day operations and longer-term HR initiatives. If you enjoy solving problems, driving improvements and working within a fast-paced environment, this role offers genuine career development and visibility. Key Responsibilities Employee Relations & HR Support Act as the first point of contact for HR matters on-site Provide advice and guidance to managers and employees Manage employee relations cases Support disciplinary and capability processes Conduct absence reviews and attendance management activities Escalate complex cases to the HR Manager where appropriate Operational HR Support the management of Time & Attendance processes Liaise with payroll and ensure accurate payroll inputs are submitted Monitor HR metrics and KPI reporting Maintain accurate HR records and employee data Continuous Improvement Develop and improve HR processes and procedures Introduce greater structure around absence management and attendance monitoring Support the transition away from heavily manual processes Drive consistency and best practice across the site HR Projects Support employee wellbeing initiatives Assist with Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) activities Contribute to employee benefits projects Support employee engagement activities Participate in sustainability and community initiatives Assist with wider HR projects across the business About You Essential Experience Previous experience within a generalist HR role Strong employee relations knowledge Experience managing disciplinary, grievance and absence cases Experience supporting operational managers Understanding of Time & Attendance systems and payroll inputs Ability to work confidently in a fast-paced environment Strong communication and relationship-building skills Desirable Experience Manufacturing, engineering or industrial sector experience Experience working within a hands-on operational environment Strong analytical and process improvement mindset CIPD qualification or currently working towards CIPD Ideal Profile Progressed through roles such as HR Coordinator, HR Officer or HR Advisor Approximately 3-5+ years' HR experience Looking for a role with greater autonomy and ownership Comfortable balancing operational HR activity with continuous improvement projects Benefits Salary of £32,000 - £36,000 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Early finish every Friday Flexible working hours with a core-hours approach Annual salary review process Performance and development framework Potential CIPD support Exposure across all areas of HR Long-term career development opportunities About Ford & Stanley Group Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom. Ford & Stanley TalentWise – Business specialising in blue collar trade & technical services – permanent and temporary. Ford & Stanley Recruitment – Business specialising in white collar spanning all company functions with specialist verticals within Digital, Rail Engineering, Civils & Infrastructure, General Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics both permanent and contract. Ford & Stanley Executive Search – Business specialising in Executive Search & Executive Interim Solutions in the UK, North America, Middle East and Europe. Ford & Stanley Genius Performance – Performance is always accelerated when good people are coached, inspired, trained and focused in the right way. Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy