Associate People Business Partner

Royal Devon; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension

Blue Light Card

Cycle to work

Onsite nursery

Job summary

Royal Devon is seeking an Associate People Business Partner to work with experienced People Business Partners across Clinical Specialist Services, Corporate Services and Estates and Facilities. You will provide HR advice, support workforce plans, and help drive recruitment and retention initiatives.

You will build relationships with managers and senior leaders, offering guidance to deliver organisational objectives in a fast-paced NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Experience advising senior managers or directors on a wide range of people issues
• Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, retention and employee engagement
• Knowledge of employment and equality legislation and good People practice
• Strong communication, relationship-building and influencing skills
• Experience of partnership working with trade unions or employee representatives
• Excellent organisation, professional judgement, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to deliver competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Graduate CIPD membership at Level 7 or equivalent specialist People knowledge gained through demonstrable experience

Responsibilities

• Provide professional HR advice and support across a wide range of people matters
• Use workforce data and insight to help identify priorities, inform decision-making and support the delivery of workforce plans
• Contribute to organisational change, consultation and workforce redesign initiatives, working collaboratively with managers and Staffside representatives to support positive employee relations and successful change outcomes
• Support recruitment and retention initiatives, including helping services address difficult to fill vacancies and supporting attraction activities where required
• A key part of the role is building effective relationships with managers and senior leaders, providing advice, support and constructive challenge to help deliver workforce and organisational objectives

Skills

Advising senior managers

Workforce planning

Recruitment & retention

Employment law basics

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Trade union partnerships

Organisational judgement

Problem solving

Education

CIPD Level 7

Job description

Make a difference for our patients and colleagues

At the Royal Devon, our purpose is clear: to make a difference for our patients and the communities we serve.

Our People (HR) team supports the colleagues and teams who care for patients and keep our services running. By helping leaders develop capable, supported and engaged teams, we contribute to stronger services and better patient care.

As an Associate People Business Partner, you will work alongside experienced People Business Partners across Clinical Specialist Services, Corporate Services and Estates and Facilities.

This is an opportunity to broaden your experience, develop your strategic business-partnering skills and see a clear connection between your work, colleague experience and patient care.

You do not need previous NHS experience. We welcome relevant experience from other complex organisations.

About the Role

Working closely with People Business Partners and service leaders, you will provide professional HR advice and support across a wide range of people matters. You will use workforce data and insight to help identify priorities, inform decision‑making and support the delivery of workforce plans.

You will contribute to organisational change, consultation and workforce redesign initiatives, working collaboratively with managers and Staffside representatives to support positive employee relations and successful change outcomes.

You will also support recruitment and retention initiatives, including helping services address difficult to fill vacancies and supporting attraction activities where required.

A key part of the role is building effective relationships with managers and senior leaders, providing advice, support and constructive challenge to help deliver workforce and organisational objectives.

About You

We welcome applications from People (HR) professionals from all sectors who can demonstrate relevant and transferable experience.

You will have:

• Experience advising senior managers or directors on a wide range of people issues
• Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, retention and employee engagement
• Sound knowledge of employment and equality legislation and good People practice
• Strong communication, relationship‑building and influencing skills
• Experience of partnership working with trade unions or employee representatives
• Excellent organisation, professional judgement, and problem‑solving skills
• The ability to deliver competing priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• A curious and solution‑focused approach, asking thoughtful questions to understand what is driving workforce challenges
• A graduate CIPD membership at postgraduate/Level 7, or equivalent specialist People knowledge gained through demonstrable experience.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully for the complete essential and desirable selection criteria.

Working Pattern

The opportunity is available as:

• one full‑time post of 37.5 hours a week
• job share: one part‑time post working three days a week and one part‑time post working two days a week.

Please state your preferred working pattern in your application.

Hybrid working is available, with an expectation that you will usually work on site for one or two days each week.

The role may be based in Exeter or Barnstaple. You must be able to travel between Royal Devon sites when required.

We are happy to discuss working arrangements and reasonable adjustments before you apply.

Interview Date:To Be Confirmed

For further information please contact:Claire Turner, People Business Partner Lead [e-mail]

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation TrustandNorthern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state‑of‑the‑art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world‑class care to our local communities.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work‑life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.

• Salary Band 7: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata
• Frequency Annual
• Vacancy Reference 185-75041-14663
• Contract Type Permanent
• Closing Date 13 November, 2026
• Job Category Human Resources