ER & HR Advisor

HS Design, Inc.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A global design consultancy in Bristol is seeking an Employee Relations & HR Advisor to enhance their People Team. This role is crucial for guiding managers in employee relations and developing HR policies that align with local contexts. Candidates should possess a solid understanding of UK employment law and have strong communication skills. The position offers a salary up to £45,000 with flexible working and various employee benefits, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Benefits

Performance-related company-wide bonus

Flexible hybrid working

Private healthcare

Enhanced parental leave

Salary exchange pension scheme

25 days annual leave plus options for purchase

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Death in service benefit

Training and development opportunities

Free monthly lunch

Free breakfast every Wednesday

Qualifications

• Demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience in managing employee relations casework independently.
• Experience in reviewing and creating People policies that fit the business context.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively across global teams.
• Demonstrate a proactive, detail-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Advise managers on employee relations matters.
• Develop HR policies reflecting best practice and legal compliance.
• Monitor key people metrics to inform continuous improvement.
• Support onboarding and exit processes.
• Partner with external consultants on complex cases.
• Contribute to training for managers on HR topics.

Skills

Knowledge of UK employment law

Employee relations casework management

Policy creation

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Collaborative work across teams

Detail-oriented approach

Job description

Ensera Design is a world-class user‑centred innovation and product development consultancy, specializing in the medical and consumer health sectors with offices in Bristol, Colorado and New Jersey. As part of Ensera, we collaborate globally with contract manufacturing facilities in Europe, the USA, and Asia.

About the role

We are currently seeking an Employee Relations & HR Advisor to join our People Team and help us create an inclusive, high‑performing environment across our global design and product development studios.

This is a pivotal role where you’ll act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing proactive, solution‑focused guidance on employee relations, HR policies, and compliance. You’ll lead the development and consistent application of people processes that align across our sites in the UK and USA, while ensuring they remain responsive to local legislation and cultural context.

In the role you’ll:

• Advise managers on employee relations matters, including performance, grievance, and disciplinary processes.
• Develop and maintain HR policies and processes that reflect best practice and legal compliance.
• Monitor key people metrics to inform continuous improvement.
• Support onboarding, contract changes, and exit processes.
• Partner with external HR consultants and internal stakeholders on complex cases and change initiatives.
• Contribute to training and development for managers on HR topics.

Your skills and experience

Whilst you do not need to meet all of these points, please ensure you meet the majority of them before making an application:

• Demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience in managing employee relations casework independently.
• Experience in reviewing and creating People policies that fit the business context.
• Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively across global teams.
• Demonstrate a proactive, detail‑orientated approach with a passion for creating a fair and inclusive workplace.

The salary for this role is up to £45,000. You will be asked to provide your preferred salary as part of your application.

Why work with us?

We offer interesting and varied work combined with a supportive team culture to provide a stimulating environment where you will have the opportunity to develop and learn from others. We offer flexible working policies where working patterns are agreed with our line managers, taking into account the role, needs of the individual, and the team.

We recognise that we are only as good as our people and we know how important it is to support our team.

We offer:

• Performance‑related company‑wide bonus.
• Flexible hybrid working in line with our core hours (Mon–Thu, 9:30am–12:00pm & 2:00pm–4:00pm; Fri, 9:30am–12:00pm).
• Private healthcare for you and your family.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Salary exchange pension scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, plus the option to purchase up to one working week and additional days for length of service.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and digital wellbeing platform.
• Cycle to Work & Electric Vehicle Lease schemes.
• Death in service (x4 gross salary).
• Training and development opportunities, including dedicated learning days and regular knowledge‑sharing sessions.
• A free lunch the first Monday of every month alongside our company‑wide meeting.
• Free breakfast every Wednesday, and plenty of opportunities to socialise, including team‑organised activities, summer and Christmas parties, and more.

About us

Our Bristol office is based in an iconic Grade II listed building in the heart of the city. Our vibrant workspace houses state‑of‑the‑art labs, a design studio, usability suites, and collaborative meeting spaces. Nestled in a lively neighbourhood with independent shops, we’re just a short walk from Park Street, the Harbourside, and St. Nick’s Markets.

We are proud of our values:

• Find a way: We work as one team, combining our knowledge and experience to unite around a shared goal. We trust each other and do what’s needed to get things done and exceed expectations.
• Pull together: We believe anything is possible. When faced with challenges we take the initiative, using our creative spirit and determination to find bold solutions and deliver results that move us forward.
• Care: We act with integrity, take pride in our work, and support each other. We each play our part to make a positive impact for our customers, our colleagues, and our planet.

Our diverse, multidisciplinary design and product development team spans research, design, human factors, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and beyond. Together, we deliver cutting‑edge solutions for clients ranging from global leaders to innovative start‑ups, with a particular focus on medical devices, drug delivery, orthopaedics, and diagnostics.

Do we sound like a good match for you?

If you’d like to discuss the role or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need to make your application, we’d love to hear from you. If you think you might be the right person for us but want an informal chat first then get in touch via [e-mail].

Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy if we have a high level of applications. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re seeking talented individuals, creative thinkers and problem solvers to collaborate with some of the world’s leading healthcare brands

If you want to be part of a contract design and manufacturing organisation that thinks outside the box, or you’re passionate about advancing healthcare solutions, we’d love to hear from you.