Job Purpose

Working with a prestigious Midlands-based University, your main duties will include establishing and maintaining credibility as a trusted partner and expert on people strategy. Deliver a high-quality, strategic and operational HR service to senior leaders while contributing to the development of policy, culture, and best practice across the institution.

Main Duties & Responsibilities (summary)

• Develop and implement HR plans aligned with faculty/directorate business priorities and the overall HR strategy.
• Partner with senior managers to improve engagement, embed a positive culture and manage organisational risk.
• Lead workforce/resource planning, supporting future-focused organisational design and ensuring recruitment, selection and retention frameworks meet business needs.
• Drive compliance with HR policy and employment law, using HR metrics to identify and address issues (absence, turnover, ER cases, flexible working, selection).
• Support and coach leaders on complex change initiatives, TUPE, restructuring, job design, and organisational development.
• Ensure consistent application of performance management, build a talent data bank, and work with OD to identify and deliver training and development.
• Provide authoritative advice on employee relations, equality, diversity & inclusion, succession planning, and workforce redesign.
• Champion service improvement within HR operations and contribute to cross-institutional projects and initiatives.
• Support complex/high-risk ER cases, ensuring compliance with legal advice and tribunal processes when required.
• Collaborate with EDI teams to deliver and monitor faculty/directorate action plans.
• Contribute as a senior member of the HR team to strategy, policy development and leadership of the wider service.

Person Specification (essential highlights)

• Degree or equivalent experience; Level 7 CIPD (or working toward).
• Broad, up-to-date HR expertise in complex organisations.
• Proven experience partnering with senior managers, managing ER issues and delivering organisational change.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, HR policy, TUPE, restructuring and job evaluation.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to influence, coach and support leaders.
• Financial and HR analytics awareness; confident with workforce data.
• Experience of union engagement and maintaining constructive industrial relations.