HR & OD

Grade 8: - £42,149 - £50,296 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 13-Jul-2022, 6:59:00 AM

The closing date for applications is 12 July at midnight.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Job Title: HR Business Partner
Department: Human Resources
Responsible to: Head of HR Business Partnering
Grade: Grade 8
Salary range: £42,149 - £50,296 per annum

Working arrangements: Permanent and Full time (35 hours). Applications also welcome from those who wish to work part-time, please specify the fte you would like to work in your application.  Hybrid working encouraged – typically 2 days on site and 3 days remote, but flexibility required.

Other Benefits:

Durham City Centre location with free parking ANNUAL LEAVE* 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year; bringing total leave to 42 days per year. Option to purchase additional leave. PENSIONS SCHEME(S) Automatic enrolment into University Superannuation Scheme (USS), with employer contributions. VOLUNTEERING up to 5 days per annum STAFF DISCOUNTS

The Department and role purpose:

Introduction

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

We find it easy to be proud of the extraordinary people we have at Durham. We offer the inspiration, they achieve the outstanding. We invite you to join our fantastic team.

Our People Strategy

Our People Strategy has 5 key strategic aims.

These are:

• To structure the workforce in the most effective and efficient ways to deliver the University strategy
• To attract, retain and reward the best talent
• To develop leadership at all levels ensuring that all staff and supported to realise their potential and understand their contributions to achieving the University’s core goals
• To ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged
• To promote and support the wellbeing of the workforce

To find out more about the Human Resources team please see: https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/professional-services/human-resources/ 

The Role

The HR Business Partner will be an HR generalist who will provide professional HR advice to Divisional Heads, Heads of College, Heads of academic and service departments and staff on the full range of employee relations issues, including employment, development, termination, contractual, grievance and disciplinary issues for all groups of staff.

The postholder will also be called upon to engage in both policy, project and change management work.

The HR Business will foster positive working relationships with Trade Union colleagues.

The HR Business Partner will manage HR Advisers and HR Assistants, as appropriate, and will be involved in inducting, training and developing new team members.

Durham University is committed to promoting equality and diversity

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

As a University we foster a collegiate community of extraordinary people aligned to the University’s values. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

Durham University’s Athena Swan institutional award recognises and celebrates good practice in recruiting and supporting the development of women. We have also signed up to the Race Equality Charter, a national framework for improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.

If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Role responsibilities:

Interpersonal and Communications

• Provision of well-constructed written advice, reports and letters relating to the full range of HR issues.
• Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service.
• Liaise and engage with key stakeholders, trade union colleagues and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services.
• Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships.
• Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations leading on HR elements.

Operations

• Provide expert professional advice to managers including Heads of College, Heads of academic and professional service departments regarding welfare, employment and wellbeing.
• Support the wider Business Partner team with the full range of employee relations issues and case work.
• Support the creation and updating of policies and processes in the University.
• Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.
• Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to achieve business outcomes and objectives.
• Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees and to contribute to projects and business cases.
• Contribute to the HR training programme, to lead training sessions, as appropriate.  
• Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards, including maintaining a knowledge of current best practice and employment law and its relevance to the higher education environment.
• Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources.

People Management

• Ensure the HR Advisers/Administrators are supported to deliver a first class HR service to Heads of Departments, Colleges, Line Managers and staff.
• Devolve responsibilities to relevant team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews.
• Recruit, induct, train and develop new team members.
• Help to shape the skills and expertise of future team members and design work structures to meet operational and strategic goals.
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within the team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management.
• Manage and monitor team performance and workload to ensure smooth service provision through peaks and troughs.

Stakeholders, Networks and Personal Development

• Work effectively with campus trade unions to further University objectives, to consult on projects, policy work and/or to resolve employee relations issues.
• Manage operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Internal and external relationship development and networking to engage and influence current and future recruitment and selection in the University.
• To keep up-to-date with relevant HR and employment law developments.

Planning and Projects

• Implement HR projects and change management projects in collaboration with relevant managers (and often) senior managers, peers and specialists.
• Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision.
• Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
• Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments, including employment law and best practice.
• Awareness of the external environment and sector best practice to support high quality services while ensuring both best practice and innovation at Durham.

Any other reasonable duties, including providing cover for the Heads of HR Business Partnering in his/her absence.

Working Arrangements

At Durham we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all. Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is piloting hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2021/2022, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours. If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you. Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change within the pilot and when the pilot ends.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits to our staff, including:

• 30 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part time) and the option to purchase additional leave;
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme;
• Corporate and local discounts;
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits;
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre;
• Reward and Recognition Schemes;
• Personal and career development;
• And SO much more, with further information available here

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification. In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Information if you have a disability

The University welcomes applications from disabled people. We are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk.

What you are required to submit 

1. A CV; 
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out in the essential and desirable criteria;

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details – Lucy Woods, Head of Business Partnering

For further information regarding this post, please contact; lucy.woods@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

As a University we foster a collegiate community of extraordinary people aligned to the University’s values. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive, and in doing so, recruit the world’s best candidates from all backgrounds and identities. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
3. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
4. Certified member of CIPD (Level 7) and significant post qualification knowledge and expertise used to influence events and activities within a medium to large organisation.
5. Ability to independently manage a large employee relations caseload.  
6. Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
7. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.  
8. Experience of providing HR specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
9. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
10. Planning and project management skills, with the ability to establish clear priorities and deliver accordingly.
11. Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.
12. Experience of managing the HR aspects of change projects including restructures
13. Track record of effective line management.
14. Up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and experience of its practical application
15. Strong personal presence and credibility with demonstrable negotiating skills.
16. Ability to work under pressure and to set and achieve goals within tight deadlines.
17. Determination, resilience and enthusiasm.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of dealing with trade union representatives.
• HR experience within Higher Education
• Experience of TUPE transfers
• HR experience within a large complex organisation

Recruiting to this post

In order to progress to the assessment stage of the recruitment process, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider the desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

• A CV; and
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential against the criteria set out above.

Contact details

For further information please contact Lucy Woods, Head of HR Business Partnering on lucy.woods@durham.ac.uk.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.