Assistant HR Partner

University of Plymouth; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Plymouth is seeking an Assistant HR Partner to join its HR Partnering Team. This full-time position involves providing expert HR advice, acting as the first point of contact for HR queries, and collaborating across various departments. Candidates should have strong communication skills, proven HR experience, and knowledge of UK employment law. Other qualifications include a CIPD Level 3 certification, with a preference for those working towards Level 5. The role offers generous annual leave, development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Development opportunities

Enhanced family leave

Flexible working

Retailer discounts

On-site nursery

Qualifications

• Experience providing expert HR advice on recruitment and employee relations.
• Ability to deliver training and contribute to HR policy development.
• Experience analyzing HR data to inform business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for HR queries.
• Support managers with casework and employee relations.
• Deliver training and develop HR policies.
• Collaborate across departments to provide HR services.

Skills

Strong communicator

Proven HR experience

Knowledge of UK employment law

Team player

Customer-focused solutions

Education

CIPD Level 3

Working towards CIPD Level 5

Job description

Are you ready to take the next step in your HR career? We’re looking for a proactive Assistant HR Partner to join our HR Partnering Team at the University of Plymouth.

About the role

In this people-focused role, you’ll report to the Senior HR Partner and act as the first point of contact for a portfolio of academic and professional services teams. You’ll provide expert HR advice across recruitment, employee relations, performance management, job evaluation, and more—while contributing to policy development, training delivery, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for HR queries within your portfolio.
• Support managers through casework and employee relations.
• Deliver training and contribute to HR policy development.
• Analyse HR data to identify trends and inform decisions.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure seamless HR services.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role, please contact Kate Murray by email at [e-mail].

We’re currently unable to sponsor this role under the Skilled Worker visa route. However, we welcome all applicants, and other visa options may be available.

What we’re looking for

• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and build trust.
• Proven HR experience and solid knowledge of UK employment law.
• CIPD Level 3 (essential) and ideally working towards Level 5 or equivalent experience.
• Team player with a passion for customer-focused solutions.

About us

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your HR career in a supportive, forward-thinking environment. Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional development.

For this role, you will need to be on site 4 days a week. We can accommodate flexibility to work from home, but being based on-site will be expected due to business needs.

This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a permanent basis.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Anticipated Interview Date: Week Commencing Monday 19 January 2026.

Our Offer

A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.

When joining us, you will receive:

• Generous annual leave: 25 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter.