Interim HR Policy & Compliance Consultant

A well-established organisation is seeking an experienced Interim HR Policy and Compliance Consultant to undertake a comprehensive review of its people policies, procedures and supporting guidance. 6 month contract, immediate start. 

The successful candidate will ensure the organisation’s HR policy framework is legally compliant, current and aligned with organisational values and recognised best practice. This will include auditing existing policies, identifying risks and gaps, and drafting or updating policies in accordance with UK and relevant European employment legislation.

The role will also establish a robust policy governance framework, including a comprehensive policy matrix and ongoing review schedule.

This is an individual-contributor position with no direct reports or budget responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Review and Development

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of existing HR policies, procedures and guidance.
• Assess compliance with current UK employment legislation, relevant European requirements and applicable case law.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and areas of potential risk within the existing policy framework.
• Recommend appropriate solutions and areas for improvement.
• Draft, update and standardise HR policies and procedures.
• Ensure policies reflect legislative developments, regulatory requirements, organisational priorities and recognised best practice.
• Incorporate appropriate considerations relating to equality, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, wellbeing and data protection.

Governance and Compliance

• Create and maintain a comprehensive HR policy matrix.
• Map policies against relevant legal requirements, policy owners, supporting procedures and scheduled review dates.
• Develop and manage a policy review schedule to ensure policies are reviewed and updated within agreed timeframes.
• Monitor forthcoming changes to UK and European employment law and assess their impact on existing policies and procedures.
• Partner with Legal, Data Protection and other relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with the organisation’s wider compliance framework.
• Maintain accurate records relating to policy approvals, version control and review outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and colleagues across Employee Relations, Reward, Talent and other specialist HR functions.
• Ensure policies are practical, accessible and capable of being implemented consistently across the organisation.
• Support consultation processes where required.
• Provide expert advice to managers and HR colleagues on policy interpretation and application.
• Influence and engage stakeholders at different levels of the organisation.

Implementation and Communication

• Support the implementation of new and revised policies through clear communication and engagement plans.
• Develop practical guidance materials, manager toolkits, FAQs and training resources.
• Help managers and employees understand policy changes and their responsibilities.
• Promote consistent policy application across the organisation.
• Monitor policy effectiveness through stakeholder feedback, compliance audits and employee-relations trends.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Produce reports for senior stakeholders covering policy compliance, key risks and forthcoming legislative changes.
• Recommend improvements to HR governance and people practices.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and effective risk management.

Experience Required

• Demonstrable experience of developing and reviewing HR policies within a UK organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment legislation and employment-law compliance.
• Awareness of relevant European employment directives and case law.
• Experience conducting policy audits and identifying legal, regulatory and operational risks.
• Experience establishing or improving HR policy governance frameworks.
• Proven ability to draft clear, accessible and legally robust policies and procedures.
• Experience translating complex legislation into practical guidance for managers and employees.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written communication and policy-drafting capability.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Sound judgement and a well-developed awareness of legal and organisational risk.
• Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver work within agreed deadlines.
• High levels of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with HR and business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent professional experience.
• A qualification in employment law, HR compliance or a related discipline would be advantageous.