Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry – HR Adviser
Tamar Bridge & Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee seek to appoint an Human Resources (HR) Adviser to assist the HR Manager in the people function at Tamar Crossings. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to have positive influence in a period of transformation and change!
You will champion effective management, change and innovation, modernising practices and employee wellbeing and engagement at Tamar Crossings, to work towards the Tamar 2050 transformation plan. This is a supporting role in a unique, multi-site and multi skilled environment, where no two days are the same!
Please read all the details to understand what we require before deciding whether the role is suitable for you. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full job description and person specification.
Who we are:
Tamar Crossings is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and administration of the two crossings over the River Tamar – Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry. With approx. 26,000 vehicles travelling with us every day, we play an important part in the local infrastructure, creating a link between Plymouth, Devon and South East Cornwall.
Tamar Crossings are jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council. The operation, maintenance and improvement of the crossings are funded through tolls charged. The Torpoint Ferry is the largest chain ferry service and busiest estuarial vehicular crossing in the UK, whilst the Tamar Bridge provides a link on the busy A38 Trunk Road for more than 14 million vehicles a year. The crossings operate a successful electronic tolling scheme which 60% of users utilise to pay the toll.
At Torpoint Ferry we provide a service to approximately 2 million vehicles and 550,000 pedestrians and cyclists per year. Three ferries provide a 24-hour service, 365 days a year and is an essential transport link for Southeast Cornwall, its residents and businesses. The Torpoint Ferry crossing is the busiest estuarial vehicular crossing in the United Kingdom.
HR Adviser role:
The HR Adviser role encompasses a range of HR functions from the initial recruitment cycle, through probationary advice and guidance to the provision of advice, coaching and guidance on a wide range of people and employee relations matters. The postholder will participate in administration of the HR system, policy development and procedure updates, as well as closely working with the HR Manager on the wider, long term people strategy.
An up to date, thorough knowledge of employment law is vital to succeed in this role. In addition, the postholder will be supported in developing training material and sharing this knowledge at training workshops, delivered by the Advisor, to managers and employees across the organisation.
As the focal point for employee relations matters you will provide a comprehensive HR support function across the organisation to include wide ranging HR advice, on matters including discipline, grievance, capability, absence, flexible working, and redundancy. Given the small team, it is essential that the postholder is able to accurately record notes in meetings and complete detailed formal documentation. The delivery of this service requires well developed coaching and mentoring skills to guide employees in best practice, and expected behaviours and to deliver the organisation’s values.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to develop strong working relationships, to contribute to and influence the decision-making process with employees at all levels
The skills you need:
The person specification gives a high level of detail of which skills and what experience we are looking for in the successful candidate.
In the first instance, you must be able to demonstrate:
· CIPD level 5, equivalent experience or willing to work towards.
· Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
· Highly methodical approach to work in order to ensure that reactive and proactive HR initiatives make a positive contribution.
· Attention to detail specifically around formal documentation, legal notes, report writing, and data entry.
· Extensive use of IT equipment and systems including Microsoft office suite and electronic records.
Experience of:
· handling complex employee relations matters.
· working in a complex governance environment.
· undertaking the full recruitment cycle inclusive of job description development, advertising, interviewing, offer and induction.
· applying current and emerging employment law.
What else you need to know:
The role facilitates the Drugs, Alcohol and other substances regime and therefore is required to support random and with cause drugs and alcohol testing, which is occasionally outside of normal contracted hours.
You must be able to attend the offices at both sites, Torpoint Ferry and Tamar Bridge, and be able to travel between sites if needed.
Pay & Benefits
Salary:
£24,401 – £26,697 per annum, based on 25 hours per week,
Monday – Friday
FTE, 37 hours per week, £36,124 – £39,513
National pay award pending from 1 April 2025
Overall hours and attendance patterns can be discussed with suitable candidates. However, attendance must reflect the required support provided to a 24/7 operation and shift changeover patterns
There may be occasional ‘call outs’ or pre-arranged requirements outside of your normal working hours, as detailed above.
Benefits:
· Regular pay award for all employees negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC)
· Local Government Pension Scheme – employer and employee contributions
· A minimum of 25 days annual leave (or hours equivalent), pro-rata to contract and shift allowances, plus public/bank holidays.
· Staff travel card for free crossings of the Tamar Bridge and the Torpoint Ferry
· 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
· Family friendly policies including shared parental leave, contractual maternity, paternity and adoption
· Learning and Development Opportunities
· Remote working and comms technology appropriate to the post
Interested?
Applications will only be accepted on the official application form available on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry website. Letters, CV’s, or other alternative methods will not be accepted.
Presentation of the application form is important and may be assessed as part of the short-listing process.
Closing date: 9:00am on 1st July 2025
It is anticipated that interviews will take place w/c 14th July 2025
To learn more about this exciting opportunity or for an informal conversation please contact Laura Martin, HR Manager on 01752 812233.
If you have not heard anything by 9th July 2025 please assume you have been unsuccessful. We are sorry but due to the expected volume of applicants we are unable to inform people individually or give feedback to people who are not successful in reaching the interview stages.
Please visit https://www.tamarcrossings.org.uk/vacancies/ to see the job description and person specification for the role and apply for the vacancy.