HR Business Partner

at  University of Hertfordshire

Post Title: HR Business Partner
SBU/Department: Human Resources
FTE: 1FTE (working 37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Permanent
Salary: UH8 £45,163pa to £56,921pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience
Annual Leave: 30 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: Bishop Square, Hatfield, University of Hertfordshire
We are looking for an experienced, committed and proactive CIPD-qualified candidate to join our team of excellent HR Business Partners who contribute to and influence the University’s People Strategy. Our business partnering team provides solution-focused, practical, hands-on advice to managers and staff across our University and its subsidiary companies. The team are highly valued by our managers and are their primary contact for all people-related matters. Our business partners are the conduit between our wider HR team and our Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and operate with a high degree of autonomy but work closely together to achieve success for each unit and consistency of approach for the University as a whole.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

You will have had appropriate proven HR case work experience, including but not limited to disciplinary processes, grievance, absence management and claims of harassment and bullying as well as supporting change management projects as well as experience of working with key stakeholders in a partnering relationship. Ideally you will also have had experience of working with trade unions, and ideally experience in the public sector environment. Experience of developing and executing workshops for staff and managers would be advantageous.
You will have excellent communication skills, good presentation skills as well as confidence to negotiate, influence and persuade colleagues, whilst having the ability to build and develop professional working relationships and deliver a customer focused service. The ability to work independently on own initiative whilst contributing to the team and demonstrating consistency is essential for the role. You will be able to prioritise several sometimes conflicting demands and deal with sensitive material with strict confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

You will be educated with a degree, or equivalent or substantial proven work experience. You must also hold a professional HR qualification and CIPD membership.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Informal enquiries should be made to Hawa Rahim, Senior HR Business Partner (Business Partnering Team), h.rahim@herts.ac.uk
Closing Date: 06 October 2024
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference Number: 061875
Date advert placed: 13 September 2024
Our vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics. We recognise there is currently an under-representation of male staff within the HR department, therefore we particularly encourage applications from male candidates. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships, personal and professional development and family friendly policies. #GoHerts.

The Business Partners are responsible for day to day strategic and operational support for the Strategic Business Units with a full generalist remit which will include assisting managers at an early stage in identifying the HR implications of change management strategies, including providing advice and guidance on the review of structures, redundancies, consultation documents, implementing the agreed changes and meeting with recognised trade unions and with staff. The successful candidate will coach and influence managers in order to develop their people management/leadership skills and constructively challenge inappropriate behaviours/actions appropriately.