Interim People Advisor at British Council

Role purpose:

• The People Advisor will support the hub Lead People Advisor, Cluster Leads and Country Directors and SBU leads and teams through the delivery of legally and culturally compliant advice and guidance, across the broad spectrum of People function activity, to support efficient and effective business operations and an improved employee experience. Through coaching and advice, they will contribute to building the confidence of line managers to address people-related challenges and to the early resolution of workplace conflict.
• The role will be key to ensuring that the People function services provided are consistent with global HR policies and processes, reflect local policy frameworks, and are high quality and efficient.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:  

Subject expertise

• Advise and guideline managers to manage all aspects of the employee life cycle, so that the EVP is delivered and experienced within the organisation.
• Apply People function technical and professional knowledge, recognised best practice approaches and insight from previous experience to resolve non-standard issues.
• Manage and advise on discipline and conduct related issues, up to and including dismissal by reference to policy and local legislation and working with ER/case management team on medium and high-risk cases as required.
• Support resolution of workplace conflict, including grievances, taking an early resolution approach wherever possible.

Internal customer focus

• Consult closely with internal customers and other stakeholder to understand current and future business needs and plans work activities accordingly to ensure the services and advice provided meet those demands.

Service improvement

• Provide expert HR advice informed by local labour laws and other relevant regulations, support and challenge to internal customers and other stakeholders to support the development of high quality, effective and continuously improving business practices within their area of expertise, ensuring high quality service is delivered to maximise performance and minimise risks and costs.
• Make professional recommendations to resolve specific or localised People function issues and offer ideas which contribute to the development of wider solutions to broader business challenges and problems.
• Participate as part of a team to support implementation the people component of corporate or regional change projects.

Requirements of the role:

• Demonstrable experience in a generalist or specialist People function Advisory role across a number of countries in the (Hub); and/or a large complex country and well versed in all areas of the People function life cycle.
• Track record of building effective relationships with business leadership teams and managing a range of complex internal and external stakeholders in the delivery of high quality and effective professional People function services.
• Working knowledge of employment and labour law including working knowledge of social security and tax regulations for private sector organizations in the (Hub) and leading on employee relations cases.

Desirable:

HR qualification (MA/MSC or CIPD or equivalent) 

Closing Date:  Applications will close at 23:59 on 11 March 2026 South Africa Time / 21:59 UK Time

We request that applications be submitted in English

You must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of application.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.  Important Information:

Department: Advisory and Operations

Contract Duration: Nine (9) Months Fixed term contract

Gross Annual Salary- Nigeria: NGN 30,426,883.00

Basic Monthly Salary - Ghana: GHC 10,649.00

Locations: Lagos & Abuja Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana (candidates can be based in any of the mentioned locations)