Assistant HR Business Partner Human Resources 42854 Grade 7

The University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK seeks an experienced Assistant HR Business Partner to support HR functions including advisory roles and project management. The role requires expertise in HR practices, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. You will play a vital role in enhancing HR services and fostering a diverse work environment. This is a full-time position based in Birmingham, offering a salary range of £36,636 to £46,049 with benefits.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Subsidised day nurseries

Qualifications

• Demonstrated HR Advisory experience across a broad range of HR areas at a level commensurate with the nature and grade of the role.
• Thoroughly conversant in HR practice with sound judgement in the application of policies and systems.
• Experience in a complex organisation with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on people-related issues including performance, sickness, and grievance.
• Lead and monitor HR projects and initiatives.
• Support HR Business Partner to improve operational efficiency.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Influencing skills

Organizational skills

Multi-tasking

Proactive approach

Teamwork

Education

Degree or equivalent

CIPD qualification

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Description

Position Details

Human Resources

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Full‑time starting salary normally ranges from £36 636 to £46 049, with potential progression to £48 822 once in post.

Grade: 7

• 2 × Full Time Permanent positions
• 1 × Full Time Fixed‑Term contract (up to June 2027)

Closing date: 27th October 2025

Selection interviews: November 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years. We are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university and want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, supporting them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector‑leading Birmingham Professional Programme, which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5 000 professional services jobs in a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and on our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and the flourishing of our community. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who we are and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work‑life balance is important to both our employees and the success of the University. Depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements and discuss all forms of flexibility. You will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high‑quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on campus. We have a state‑of‑the‑art sports centre with a pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham.

Role Summary

The HR Advisory Services team at the University of Birmingham plays a key role in supporting the relationships between employees and the University. We currently have vacancies for the role of Assistant HR Business Partner and welcome interest from experienced, motivated and independent HR professionals with an appetite to work in a complex and dynamic environment.

Assistant HR Business Partners provide a comprehensive professional HR service across a range of University areas, giving expert advice and guidance on all aspects of employee‑related issues. You will provide individual support, consultation, and coaching to managers, and either lead or support initiatives and projects across the University in support of HR and University priorities. This will include driving the development of process efficiencies and enhancing the delivery of the HR function.

The vacancies are available on a full‑time permanent basis. We are open to applications for those wanting to explore flexible or fractional appointments.

Main Duties

• Provide timely expert advice and guidance to line managers on people‑related issues (e.g. performance, sickness, occupational health, conduct, discipline, grievance, secondments, TUPE, probation, AWOL). Exercise professional judgement to guide managers to a successful outcome, taking into account all relevant HR‑related and commercial factors.
• Lead on the management, delivery and monitoring of elements of projects or smaller projects in their entirety as required by the HR Business Partner or senior colleagues. This will include HR and University projects and initiatives, working with colleagues across the function and wider University.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of service standards across the function.
• Provide proactive support for the HR Business Partner by ensuring operational efficiency and delivery is provided by yourself and the wider team, identifying and implementing process improvements in day‑to‑day work. Deputise for the HR Business Partner where required.
• Undertake employee consultation as part of TUPE and the fixed‑term contract process, including the redundancy process.
• Work in collaboration with HR colleagues to ensure managers are supported through complex ER issues, working proactively with the ER team to progress cases as appropriate.
• Sourcing, analysing and developing insights from relevant data to identify areas of improvement in HR processes, working with colleagues across the function to address issues and develop proposals for driving improvements and efficiencies.
• Utilise a clear organisational understanding to inform the application of policy and processes, evaluating the impact and amending the approach accordingly.
• Work collaboratively with HR Business Partners and other HR teams to deliver a joined‑up HR service, ensuring issues are owned. Take individual responsibility for investigating and resolving issues, providing advice, guidance and coaching to customers even when wider support or expertise is required.
• Develop excellent customer relations, taking the time to understand wider needs and implications of the issues and managing expectations where appropriate.
• Act as an initial point of contact and support for other HR colleagues on more complex enquiries, providing technical advice, guidance and support and taking responsibility for matters where appropriate.
• Utilise our in‑house Work Tracking System effectively, ensuring that correspondence is appropriately recorded and stored in line with the Data Protection Act and University Policies and practices.
• Coaching managers on processes, ensuring ownership and responsibilities remain in the appropriate places. Proactively identify skills gaps and develop tools for managers to enable them to effectively manage their staff.
• Act as a role model through championing the University and HR values, consistently utilising UoB policy and processes.

Other

• Work collaboratively to manage workloads, including supporting others with HR service delivery and the wider HR function as required.
• Work collaboratively to maximise the development and efficient use of HR systems, contributing to improvement and testing of new solutions.
• Contribute to regular team meetings, 1‑1s and performance reviews, ensuring that own skills are aligned to team, department and University requirements.
• Provide support and cover for other HR team members during demanding workloads and absence.
• Develop and maintain your own professional skills through Continuous Professional Development, proactively gathering knowledge and best practice.
• Provide proactive support to your manager in supporting the development of others in the team and more widely in HR.
• Prioritise own workload and monitor the activities of work, ensuring timely completion and managing others' expectations.
• Develop and demonstrate detailed organisational understanding, taking into account any resource constraints when formulating and agreeing appropriate solutions.
• Ensure accurate and timely capture of staff data relating to own work in all HR systems including work tracking.
• Support managers to maximise their own use of HR systems and processes.
• Consistently deliver best practice communication with internal and external customers.
• Promote equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Demonstrated HR Advisory experience across a broad range of HR areas at a level commensurate with the nature and grade of the role.
• Qualified to Degree level or equivalent.
• CIPD qualification, with ability/willingness to develop to Level 7.
• Thoroughly conversant in HR practice with the ability to apply sound judgement in the application of policies and systems.
• Experience of working in a complex organisation with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, relationship‑building, negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to cultivate strong relationships and act as a credible business partner.
• Excellent organisational and multi‑tasking skills with a methodical approach to work, able to manage and progress several different priorities whilst meeting deadlines.
• Ability to adopt a proactive approach and adapt to support change.
• Highly proficient IT skills including the MS Office suite of programmes; confident in quickly learning new IT skills and software packages.
• A good team worker with the ability to work effectively with staff at different levels of the organisation, including supporting less experienced colleagues.
• Proven track record of ability to integrate with and function effectively as part of a busy, diverse and established team with little supervision.
• Demonstrating the ability to apply sound judgement and reach considered decisions.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day‑to‑day activity that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Dimensions

This is a senior advisory role providing expert advice and support on generalist HR matters across the allocated areas. The role reports to the Business Partner and will require significant judgement in ensuring any risks are identified and escalated as appropriate.

Planning and Organising

Proactively plan and organise your own workload and possibly those of others. Work closely with your customer base in providing expert advice and guidance. Lead short‑term or smaller projects or contribute to larger University‑wide projects. Proactively drive process and service improvements within HR.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Review, develop and propose solutions for problems with staff processes and services. Authoritative in your knowledge of HR practice, providing customers with specialist advice and recommendations.

Internal and External Relationships

Liaise with a wide variety of stakeholders internally and possibly externally. Develop and maintain strong working relationships, using coaching and influencing skills to win support for solutions.

Informal enquiries to Ruth Wilkinson email: [e-mail]

Key Skills

• Category Management
• Channel Marketing
• ABAP
• Administration Support
• Accident Investigation
• AV

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1

Monthly Salary: £36 636 – £46 049