People Officer
To apply for this vacancy, click the “Apply Online” link.
If you are not already on Waverley Borough Council's website for this vacancy, you will be redirected to our website's jobs page. Either click "Apply Online" at the bottom of this page, or at the top left hand side under Waverley Borough Council click either the "Log in" button (if you are already registered) or the "Register" button.
You will be redirected to the JobsGoPublic system, which manages our online recruitment process. Once you have registered with JobsGoPublic (which is free to use) you can log in to your application at any time and keep track of where you are in the recruitment process.
If you are unable to use this service or would like assistance, please contact us via hr@waverley.gov.uk or call the Human Resources team on 01483 523388.
Join Our Team as a People Officer – Make a Real Difference Across Two Councils!
Are you ready to take your HR career to the next level in a role where your advice and expertise truly matter? Join our People & Organisational Development Team supporting Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, and help us build an exceptional working environment for over 1,000 employees!
About the Role — People Officer
As a People Officer, you’ll be the go-to HR professional for your designated service areas, delivering expert, hands-on advice and support to managers and employees. You’ll play a vital role in employee relations, sickness management, recruitment, and organisational change — all while championing fair, consistent, and effective HR practices.
Why Join Us?
- Make an Impact: Support meaningful people strategies and help create a thriving workplace culture across two vibrant councils.
- Collaborative Culture: Work alongside passionate colleagues who value wellbeing, innovation, and inclusivity.
- Career Growth: Access continuous learning opportunities and pathways to progress within a dynamic People & OD team.
- Flexible Working: Enjoy a hybrid working model and a supportive approach to work-life balance.
Great Benefits:
- Local Government Pension Scheme – planning for your future
- Generous leave entitlement and flexible working arrangements
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
- Inclusive, supportive workplace culture
- Convenient locations with free onsite parking and excellent transport links
What You’ll Do:
- Deliver clear, practical, and legally sound advice on employee relations — managing cases such as disciplinary, grievance, capability, and absence confidently from start to finish.
- Support managers with sickness absence management and wellbeing initiatives, promoting a culture of early intervention and psychological safety.
- Collaborate with resourcing teams to provide recruitment advice, support inclusive hiring practices, and contribute to workforce planning.
- Assist in organisational change processes — drafting consultation documents, attending meetings, and ensuring smooth transitions.
- Build trusted relationships within your service areas, acting as the first point of contact for HR queries and helping managers and teams perform at their best.
- Contribute to People & OD projects including employee engagement, equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI), and continuous improvement efforts.
- Keep up to date with HR policies and employment law, helping to embed best practice across both councils.
Who You Are:
- A confident HR generalist with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Experienced in handling complex employee relations and organisational change.
- Passionate about delivering consistent, fair, and supportive HR advice.
- Able to build strong partnerships with managers and work collaboratively across teams.
- Committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace.
Ready to take your HR career further and help us shape a positive, inclusive future for Guildford and Waverley?
Apply now and join a team that values your expertise, energy, and ideas!
Closing date for applications: 9:00am on Friday 31st October 2025.
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
We do not accept CVs without a completed application form. Strictly no agencies please.
In return for your valued contribution, we can offer you a competitive benefits package which includes hybrid working and agile working policies, training and development opportunities, generous annual leave and flexi time, free onsite parking, an employee assistance scheme and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. You can find out more about working at Waverley and our benefits by visiting - Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council
The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences - we are a Disability Confident employer and appoint on merit. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces and their partners. We offer an interview scheme for serving and ex-military forces members when they meet the essential criteria for the role. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
Please note we do not accept applications after the stated closing time and right to work in the UK will be checked as part of the interview process.
Salary range
- £41,965 - £45,087 per year