HR Advisor

Job details

Department

Human Resources

Responsible to

HR Business Partner

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Salary

£36,725 to £39,800 per annum pro rata (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £50,000 per annum)

Closing date

Sunday 24 March 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Post type

Part-time

Adaptive working type

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework .

Reference

0116-24

About the role

We have an opportunity for an HR Advisor to join the University on a job share basis. As part of the HR Business Partnering Team, you will be responsible for providing first-line professional HR guidance and support to managers, as well as managing HR casework. Working collaboratively with your job-share partner, you will work with the business to deliver efficient, proactive, innovative and pragmatic business-focused HR solutions and recommendations.  You will also work proactively with the business to improve employee relations through coaching and building management capability to support effective people and performance management.  

You’ll have current knowledge of employment legislation, its application and best practice, combined with HR generalist experience in a large and complex organisation. This role involves working with various stakeholders to develop their HR skills through a coaching approach, to ensure a high-quality staff experience across the organisation.

The working pattern is Wednesday 09:30-13:30, Thursday 09:30-16:00 and Friday 09:00-16:00. 

For informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Ioni Finlay, HR Business Partner, on [email protected].

For enquiries regarding your application please contact the recruitment team on [email protected] . 

Principal accountabilities

Proactively manage both formal and informal HR cases and work collaboratively to provide support at all levels, ensuring a consistent approach in line with legal requirements and University policy.

Respond to HR related queries as a first line advisor to managers across the organisation, delivering extensive advice on employment law and HR practises; this will include advising on employment status, job evaluations / job description development and supporting the broader recruitment processes.

Meet regularly with people managers to ensure best practice for dealing with HR concerns so that these are proactively managed in a timely manner before escalation of concerns.

Work with allocated areas to provide first line support to develop underpinning professional people management skills and knowledge.

Support all stages of HR processes covering disciplinary / capability and grievance and provide expert advice to panel members and Chairs that is in line with legal precedents and internal policy. This will include complex casework.

Proactively work with areas to address issues such as absence levels and support managers to effectively manage this through the use of MI and the University’s wellbeing and Occupational Health provision.

Work collaboratively with the Organisation & People Development function to develop people management capabilities across the organisation including delivery of HR related development / briefing sessions.

Highlight and report and trends / risks within the HR portfolio to HR SMT and make recommendations to address this where appropriate.

Contribute to changes regarding policy, frameworks and processes to adopt best practice approaches to reflect case law and legislation.

Ensure all case details (including case files), documentation and resolutions are accurately recorded including note taking when required, ensuring that data governance and record retention requirements are followed.

Advise employees on details of employment conditions.

Liaise with Trade Unions as appropriate.

Support the Business Partnering team to deliver strategic projects across the University.

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• Relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent HR experience
• Associate CIPD qualified or equivalent relevant work experience

Experience

• HR generalist experience in a large and complex organisation
• Experience of managing HR case work
• Experience of building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels in an organisation
• Experience of working in a unionised environment and supporting strong employee relations
• Experience of developing and delivering training / coaching to a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience working with HR policies and procedures to interpret, advise and implement such agreements and procedures
• Experience of working on HR projects

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• High level and current knowledge of employment legislation / case law and best practice and its application
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively
• Ability to write concisely to provide both qualitative and quantitative information in correspondence and reports
• Ability to research, analyse and reason logically within tight and conflicting timeframes
• The verbal communication skills to communicate with a diverse client group and provide challenge where needed
• Ability to work with line managers at all levels and develop their HR skills using a coaching approach
• Demonstrable skills and ability to ensure that sensitive employee relations issues are appropriately resolved, preventing undue escalation
• Ability to interpret and utilise HR data to support decisions and actions
• Ability to contribute to the broader University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Strategy
• A pro-active approach to own development
• Ability to problem solve and provide innovative solutions to complex HR issues
• Ability to identify development needs
• Knowledge of the best practice on recruitment and selection

Desirable Criteria
Qualifications

• Chartered CIPD qualified or working towards

Experience

• Experience of working in a large HEI / public sector environment
• Experience in leading projects and implementing new initiatives

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about pay and benefitsFind out more about pay and benefits

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

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If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

Please note that unfortunately, this role will not attract sufficient points to obtain a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the UK Visas & Immigration points based immigration system; however, applications are welcome from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, but who would be eligible to obtain a valid visa via another route..

Please consult the Home office website for further information.

What is Adaptive Working?

Adaptive working is about enabling a high-performing, flexible, and responsive work culture where the place, time, and manner of working are tailored to the specific work activity. This approach ensures that the working environment, including both physical and social surroundings, supports employees to perform at their best and meet the university’s evolving needs.

In addition, adaptive working involves intentionally designing workspaces to support a range of activities and disciplines, providing the right environment for meaningful in-person connections and effective collaboration. This includes ensuring that employees have access to the necessary equipment and resources from their first day at the university.

Adaptive working encompasses different modes of working such as site-based, remote or hybrid working. It is a broad framework within which all staff can operate effectively according to their role.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

A university that celebrates youA university that celebrates you

Further details

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Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

Find out more about working at the UniversityFind out more about working at the University

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.