Senior HR Advisor (Mat cover)

Job Description:

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.

Purpose of the Role:

The Senior HR Advisor will partner closely with People Leaders across the Media Practice Area, providing trusted expertise throughout the employee lifecycle, leading on complex employee relations (ER) cases, and driving the delivery of HR projects. This role is a key strategic enabler for Media and will have a significant impact on the delivery of the UK Media People Plan.

Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, the Senior HR Advisor will take ownership of key HR initiatives, lead cyclical people processes, and act as a senior point of guidance within the service line.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a senior point of expertise for People Leaders, providing timely, professional second‑line guidance across the full spectrum of people matters.

• Partner collaboratively with all areas of the HR function to deliver a seamless, high‑quality HR service to the Media Practice Area.

• Support the Practice Area and Senior HR Business Partner by leading and contributing to key projects, implementing new HR initiatives, and addressing strategic people challenges.

• Leverage data insights and people metrics to diagnose trends, shape recommendations, and inform decision‑making in partnership with the Media HR Team.

• Lead on complex Employee Relations cases and provide expert advice to People Leaders across performance management, disciplinaries, grievances, and capability issues.

• Build trusted, influential relationships across the business, using data such as performance, engagement, absence, and retention to drive improved people and business outcomes.

• Own the delivery of HR projects, ensuring outputs are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and contribute positively to colleague engagement.

• Provide second‑line support for escalated HR queries from the HR Operations team, ensuring clarity, consistency, and appropriate escalation to the HR Business Partner or HR Director where required.

• Champion a culture of positive change, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Service Line, acting as a visible advocate for progressive people practices.

Qualifications + Skills:

• Proven HR advisory experience with a strong track record in managing employee relations cases.

• Solid understanding of key HR centre of excellence processes, including Talent Development, Engagement, Reward and Benefits.

• Demonstrates strong business acumen with the confidence and initiative to identify opportunities and drive positive change.

• Thrives in fast-paced environments, delivering proactive, timely and effective HR support.

• Applies sound judgement, intellectual agility and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

• Strong analytical capability, including advanced Excel skills and the ability to interpret and derive insights from data.

• Well-rounded HR generalist with experience across the full employee lifecycle.

• Passionate about people engagement, confident and pragmatic in building relationships and either working towards or interested in CIPD Level 5 qualification.

What we offer

• This is a 12-month Maternity Cover role

• We are flexible in terms of location, but you must be based within a commutable distance from our Manchester or London offices as we operate under hybrid working arrangements and you will be expected to work from the office at least 2 days a week.   

• As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected] quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

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