Job Title: HR Advisor - Policy Development

Contract type: Fixed term - 6 months 

The B Corp Movement

B Lab UK is the UK home of the B Corp movement, a community of over 2,000 UK businesses who meet high standards of social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and transparency. Some B Corps you might have heard of include Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely, Finisterre, Jude’s Ice Cream, GiffGaff and WeTransfer. Our goal is to transform our economy so that all businesses can be a force for good - and we’re looking for people who can help us get there.

B Lab is a global non-profit network that inspires and enables people to use business as a force for good. It creates standards, policies, tools, and programs that shift the behaviour, culture, and structural underpinnings of capitalism.

B Lab UK is a registered charity, building and engaging the UK B Corp community. Our team of 40 staff is friendly, hard-working and committed to changing how business operates. We strive to foster an environment where staff can bring their whole selves to work, by their own definition.

The Role

We are seeking a talented and experienced HR Adviser with a strong focus on policy development for a fixed-term period to update and develop B Lab UK’s policies to align with our values and culture, guide our employees and ensure a harmonious and productive work environment. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in creating and updating company policies that align with our values and culture, comply with relevant regulations, and ensure the overall success of the organisation. 

What you will be doing

• Policy Review and Improvement:

  • Review existing policies to identify areas for improvement and implement required changes 

  • Update current policies in line with upcoming legal changes

  • Review current policies with a JEDI lens (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) to identify areas for improvement and implement required changes

  • Solicit feedback from employees and management to enhance policy effectiveness

• Policy Development:

  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop, and implement HR policies and procedures that align with both the business and cultural needs of B Lab UK

  • Conduct thorough research on industry best practices, legal requirements, and emerging trends to ensure policies are current, compliant and effective

  • Create clear and concise policy documents that are easily used by all employees which encompass and define our company culture

  • Create clear and concise manager guides for implementing policies

• Training and Education:

  • Communicate policy changes effectively, ensuring employees are aware of updates and understand the implications

  • Develop training materials and run workshops to educate employees and managers on policy-related matters

  • Provide refresher training for staff on current policies

• Update the employee handbook to meet the needs of staff and the organisation and align with company culture and values.

• Data and analysis

  • Where required, work with the HR Manager in gathering and analysing employee data to enable data-led decision-making

• Where required, work with the HR Manager to provide advice and guidance to line managers on people-related matters across the organisation

• Where required, contribute to the work of the HR and Finance and Operations team to implement strategic changes and to deliver cross-organisational projects

Skills and experience 

• CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate as minimum

• Creating and developing policies aligned with company strategy and cultural values, preferably in a mission-led organisation 

• Proven practical operational experience as an HR Adviser or similar role with a focus on policy development

• In-depth knowledge and practical experience of HR policies, processes, employment laws and regulations, and industry best practices

• Proven experience in delivering training on policies or equivalent HR processes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• A creative outlook with the ability to bring company culture and values into HR documentation 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams

• Detail-oriented with an eye for accuracy and consistency

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks

• Proactive problem-solving capabilities and analytical mindset 

Desirable

• Strong data analysis and management skills 

You are 

• Passionate about the role that business can play in creating the future that benefits all people and the planet.

• Able to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive information

• Self-motivated, proactive and structured worker, happy to work independently.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion

• Eligible to work in the UK (we will not be able to provide visa sponsorship)

What we give you

• Purpose driven work enabling B Lab UK’s mission of redefining the role of business as a force for good

• Hybrid and flexible working, we have a high trust environment and are advocates for right place working

• Hybrid working (min 1/2 days per week in office)

• Flexible working hours (based around core working hours)

• Opportunity to work 4 days a week 

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)

• 1 additional annual leave day (pro-rata for part-time staff) for each complete annual year of service, up to a maximum of 30 days

• Our office is closed between Christmas and New Year, no need to take extra holiday!

• Private Medical and Dental cover

• £200 per annum tax free Annual Wellbeing allowance and Employee Assistance Programme

• 2 paid volunteer days per year

• Enhanced Parental Leave and family friendly policies, including carers leave

• Learning and Development opportunities

• Enhanced Pension and Life Assurance

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Income Protection policy

• Working in a flexible office workspace

How to apply:

All applications must be made through Be Applied.

If we can offer accommodations for you in the recruitment process, please contact hiring@bcorporations.uk. 

We use a blind recruitment process, to avoid biased screening, where the initial selection is based on answers to predefined questions and an anonymised CV review which are scored by a panel against predefined criteria for the role.

N.B. the anonomysed scoring panel does not see the applicant's CVs or any other information about them (until interview stage). Please ensure your answers to the questions are specific and give real examples of what you have done to demonstrate your experience and skills that are required for the role.

All candidates will be contacted after the initial screening process. The short-listing process will consist of at least 2 panel interviews. Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a task. Interviews will likely to be remote, and one conversational in-person interview.

B Lab believes an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. We’re not looking for candidates who are “culture fits.” We’re looking for candidates who can expand our culture and challenge business as usual. We strive to foster an environment where all staff can bring themselves to work by their own definition, and we strive to provide all candidates with an equitable and accessible recruitment process.