People Advisor

At Gist, we're proud to be part of the M&S Group, the logistics engine behind M&S Food.

From our distribution centres to our transport operations and support functions, we connect people, technology and expertise to ensure the right products reach the right stores at the right time.

As we continue to invest in our people, technology and network, there's never been a more exciting time to join Gist and help shape the future of food logistics.

The Opportunity

Our operational People Team based in Hemel Hempstead have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and talented People Advisor where you will support the People Partner and site leadership team in delivering a consistent, practical and credible HR service.

As a People Advisor you will be responsible for delivering strong people fundamentals, providing clear and confident HR advice to managers, you will manage employee relations cases and ensure that HR processes are applied accurately and inline with policy and employment law. You will be a trusted advisor and point of contact for managers and colleagues across the operation resolving issues, building line manager capability and maintaining a fair, compliant and values led environment.

This pivotal role provides a crucial link between HR and the business where you will support in key people led activities that underpin our ongoing journey of business excellence, change and transformation.

What you'll be doing

Reporting into the onsite People Partner you will support in delivering the site-based people plan to ensure operational excellence and bring clarity on what matters using insights, data, and trends to support the on-site people agenda. You will support onsite managers in handling daily people matters, particularly absence, performance and conduct where you will provide practical coaching to upskill manager capabilities. You will support in delivering engagement activities and local initiatives across our colleague network creating an environment of open communication, fun and trust.

You will be the first point of contact for employee relations queries where you will provide clear and pragmatic advice to managers and colleagues, ensuring a fair, timely and consistent outcome. You will support and coach managers to take ownership of employee relations processes, promoting early intervention and high-quality case handling as well as maintaining accurate and thorough records and audit trails. You will escalate high risk or complex employee relation cases to the People Partner where you will support in highlighting risks and root causes and support the People Partner in delivering the local Industrial Relations approach, ensuring compliance, consistency and strong governance across all people activities.

You will maintain precise records for headcount, absence, employee relations cases and training compliance for the site and ensure all starters, leavers and change requests are completed accurately collaborating with our central People Services teams when needed. You will also support in employment lifecycle working closely with the centres of excellence teams to ensure processes are effective and efficient.

What we're looking for

To be successful in your application you will be able to demonstrate the following skills, experiences and behaviours:

• Proven HR advisory, employee relations or generalist experience, ideally within an FMCG, operational or logistics environment.
• Strong understanding of employee relations, employment law, and employment legislation.
• Demonstrable experience of coaching and mentoring line managers with people challenges.
• Strong communication skills able to build excellent working relationships.
• Organised, detail focused and able to manage conflicting priorities.
• Able to interpret and analyse HR data and form practical solutions and outcomes.
• Collaborative working style able to form relationships with wider HR functions.
• Proven problem solving and influencing skills.
• CIPD level 3 or 5 certification would be desirable however not essential.

This is an amazing opportunity to join a high performing people team, working within a defined partner model, collaborating alongside centres of excellence teams with opportunities for future growth and development. Therefore, we want an individual who is ambitious and ready to join a business that is in an exciting transformational state!

What's in it for you?

As well as a competitive salary, you'll benefit from:

• 20% M&S discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays (rising with length of service)
• Discounted rates on healthcare cash plan
• Attractive annual bonus scheme, based on M&S performance and personal objectives
• Auto Enrolment Pension or competitive Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and life assurance (up to 4 times salary)
• Amazing perks and discounts via our App to major restaurants and retailers
• Access to a wide range of wellbeing support - including our Employee Assistance Programme
• A first-class welcome with a tailored induction and a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development
• Cycle to work scheme

Why Gist?

When you join Gist, you're joining a business that plays a critical role within the M&S Group.

Youll have the opportunity to influence meaningful change, work alongside experienced leaders and contribute to one of the UK's leading food supply chains.

Our culture is built around our values of being Progressive, Accountable, Collaborative and Ethical, creating an environment where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to grow.

Whether you're leading a site operation, delivering transformation or shaping future strategy, your work will make a real difference.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Gist, we believe our differences make us stronger.

We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know. We'll work with you to ensure you have the support you need.

Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

Location: Three Cherry Trees Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7PZ