Head of HR Business Partnering

Head of HR Business Partnering Apply
The Post

Working as part of the HR&OD Senior Management Team (SMT), the Head of HR Business Partnering will provide leadership and direction to the HR Business Partner team, playing a key role in driving business performance across all faculties and professional services directorates.

The role holder will work closely with SMT colleagues to lead and embed institutional agendas that support the realisation of the University’s ambitions, as set out in the new People Strategy.

The role holder will be an experienced, influential and dynamic HR professional with a strategic outlook and the ability to lead and inform transformational change.

Description of Duties

• Lead, coach and provide direction to the HR Partner team, supporting skills and knowledge development and driving team performance
• Provide business partner support to a number of faculties and/or professional service areas and their leadership teams to help define and develop people plans that support their strategic objectives
• Work in partnership with senior managers to understand business objectives and provide well-judged advice, guidance and support 
• Contribute to embedding the University’s People Strategy by directing the provision of professional HR support that is underpinned by the key principles, and by leading on key HR&OD activities that are defined within the enabling plan
• Coach, influence, guide and challenge leaders and line managers to enable them to optimise people performance
• Play a key role in the upholding of a partnership working approach with trade union colleagues, leading on the management of formal (CJNCC) and informal engagement mechanisms
• Lead on the management of complex HR Casework, providing advice, support and guidance to senior managers and providing mentorship to HR Business Partners
• Lead and drive continuous improvement of process, procedure, and policies to enable efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience, leading on employment related policy review, development and implementation
• Prepare compelling business cases and presentations that support HR&OD initiatives, providing detail of resource implications and strongly evidencing impact and outcome
• Lead the HR Partnering team to develop oversight of people management information to support institutional planning and decision making
• Working closely with SMT colleagues, lead and manage activities associated with business continuity and risk across the directorate and institution, including the operational response to industrial action
• Work closely with SMT colleagues to promote and facilitate collaborative working across all functional teams within the HR&OD directorate
• Contribute and collaborate with others as part of institutional project teams and committees
• Contribute to, and participate in, sectoral and other external bodies and networks
• Manage all contracts that relate to health and wellbeing service provision, monitoring and addressing matters relating to service delivery and ensuring adequate provision

Essential Criteria

Attainments and Qualifications:

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent professional experience

Experience:

• Substantial leadership and management experience in an HR context
• Extensive experience of managing and resolving complex HR casework and building and maintaining constructive working relationships with Trade Unions
• Thorough knowledge and experience of the application of UK employment law and Employment Tribunal procedures
• Background in translation of strategic plans into action
• Experience of developing strategy and vision, and driving transformational change
• Demonstrable effective communication and influencing skills at senior level

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge:

• A robust, strategic, proactive approach and the ability to work in partnership with senior decision-makers
• Influential, enthusiastic and dynamic, with significant experience as a senior HR generalist with a record of successfully leading HR teams that deliver results
• Highly literate and numerate, with strong analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, collegiality and the ability to lead, coach and develop others

Desirable Criteria

• Sound knowledge of the UK Higher Education Environment and the issues therein

Additional Information

Full time.
Open ended.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 22 May 2025.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

The post is eligible for sponsorship (SOC code 2020: 1136).

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

Behaviours and Competencies

We place great importance on behaviours and attitudes during the selection process to ensure that we bring people into the University who support the way we do business. In addition to the duties and responsibilities associated with this role, the role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.

Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.

Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.

Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.

Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.

Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.

Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

About Us

The work of the HR & Organisation Development service is to connect and collaborate with leaders, managers and employees across the University to:

• Support the development and performance of our people, teams and the University
• Enhance the leadership, management and team member capability
• Enable the professional agility that nurtures resilience and delivers sustainable change
• Further employee engagement and collegiality within the University
• Support the culture of a learning organisation where our people seek to continually further their capabilities and apply them, to create change

HR & Organisation Development delivers a range of University-wide, strategically-focused development programmes and projects.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe. Driven by our mission to be the difference, we are addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.

The University has more than 17,500 students globally and employs 1,800 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented within our community. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top 10 in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and second in the world (International Student Barometer 2024, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

We were shortlisted for University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards and are proud holders of a Silver institutional award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and are ranked top 30 in the UK for postgraduate teaching and learning (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024). In recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.

Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we are ranked among the top 100 institutions in the world for our contribution to meeting 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver three major University-led projects: the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, and the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.

www.stir.ac.uk

Job number

SERV01924

Contract Type

Open Ended

Posting End Date

29-Apr-2025

Location:

Stirling Campus

Grade

Grade9 £57,422 - £66,537 p.a.

Faculty/Service

Human Resources and Organisation Development

The Post

Working as part of the HR&OD Senior Management Team (SMT), the Head of HR Business Partnering will provide leadership and direction to the HR Business Partner team, playing a key role in driving business performance across all faculties and professional services directorates.

The role holder will work closely with SMT colleagues to lead and embed institutional agendas that support the realisation of the University’s ambitions, as set out in the new People Strategy.

The role holder will be an experienced, influential and dynamic HR professional with a strategic outlook and the ability to lead and inform transformational change.

Description of Duties

• Lead, coach and provide direction to the HR Partner team, supporting skills and knowledge development and driving team performance
• Provide business partner support to a number of faculties and/or professional service areas and their leadership teams to help define and develop people plans that support their strategic objectives
• Work in partnership with senior managers to understand business objectives and provide well-judged advice, guidance and support 
• Contribute to embedding the University’s People Strategy by directing the provision of professional HR support that is underpinned by the key principles, and by leading on key HR&OD activities that are defined within the enabling plan
• Coach, influence, guide and challenge leaders and line managers to enable them to optimise people performance
• Play a key role in the upholding of a partnership working approach with trade union colleagues, leading on the management of formal (CJNCC) and informal engagement mechanisms
• Lead on the management of complex HR Casework, providing advice, support and guidance to senior managers and providing mentorship to HR Business Partners
• Lead and drive continuous improvement of process, procedure, and policies to enable efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience, leading on employment related policy review, development and implementation
• Prepare compelling business cases and presentations that support HR&OD initiatives, providing detail of resource implications and strongly evidencing impact and outcome
• Lead the HR Partnering team to develop oversight of people management information to support institutional planning and decision making
• Working closely with SMT colleagues, lead and manage activities associated with business continuity and risk across the directorate and institution, including the operational response to industrial action
• Work closely with SMT colleagues to promote and facilitate collaborative working across all functional teams within the HR&OD directorate
• Contribute and collaborate with others as part of institutional project teams and committees
• Contribute to, and participate in, sectoral and other external bodies and networks
• Manage all contracts that relate to health and wellbeing service provision, monitoring and addressing matters relating to service delivery and ensuring adequate provision

Essential Criteria

Attainments and Qualifications:

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent professional experience

Experience:

• Substantial leadership and management experience in an HR context
• Extensive experience of managing and resolving complex HR casework and building and maintaining constructive working relationships with Trade Unions
• Thorough knowledge and experience of the application of UK employment law and Employment Tribunal procedures
• Background in translation of strategic plans into action
• Experience of developing strategy and vision, and driving transformational change
• Demonstrable effective communication and influencing skills at senior level

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge:

• A robust, strategic, proactive approach and the ability to work in partnership with senior decision-makers
• Influential, enthusiastic and dynamic, with significant experience as a senior HR generalist with a record of successfully leading HR teams that deliver results
• Highly literate and numerate, with strong analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, collegiality and the ability to lead, coach and develop others

Desirable Criteria

• Sound knowledge of the UK Higher Education Environment and the issues therein

Additional Information

Full time.
Open ended.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 22 May 2025.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

The post is eligible for sponsorship (SOC code 2020: 1136).

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

Behaviours and Competencies

We place great importance on behaviours and attitudes during the selection process to ensure that we bring people into the University who support the way we do business. In addition to the duties and responsibilities associated with this role, the role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.

Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.

Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.

Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.

Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.

Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.

Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

About Us

The work of the HR & Organisation Development service is to connect and collaborate with leaders, managers and employees across the University to:

• Support the development and performance of our people, teams and the University
• Enhance the leadership, management and team member capability
• Enable the professional agility that nurtures resilience and delivers sustainable change
• Further employee engagement and collegiality within the University
• Support the culture of a learning organisation where our people seek to continually further their capabilities and apply them, to create change

HR & Organisation Development delivers a range of University-wide, strategically-focused development programmes and projects.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe. Driven by our mission to be the difference, we are addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.

The University has more than 17,500 students globally and employs 1,800 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented within our community. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top 10 in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and second in the world (International Student Barometer 2024, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

We were shortlisted for University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards and are proud holders of a Silver institutional award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and are ranked top 30 in the UK for postgraduate teaching and learning (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024). In recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.

Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we are ranked among the top 100 institutions in the world for our contribution to meeting 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver three major University-led projects: the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, and the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.

www.stir.ac.uk

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