Business Partner – HR

NHS National Services Scotland; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Education for Scotland seeks a skilled HR Business Partner to join its vibrant HR team. In this pivotal role, the successful candidate will enhance HR operations, foster strategic partnerships, and lead transformative initiatives across the organization, shaping workforce development in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Generous NHS pension scheme

Incremental salary progression

27 days annual leave + public holidays

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Demonstrate initiative and a proactive attitude in HR services.
• Ability to interpret HR policies and manage employee relations.
• Experience with data analytics to drive HR decisions.

Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end HR support across multiple directorates.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders for effective governance.
• Analyse workforce data to inform decisions and improve employee experiences.

Skills

Initiative

Employee Relations

Data Analysis

Coaching

Job description

Flexible Location: Based throughout Scotland, NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office and hybrid working. We’re happy to talk about how you want to work.

Work Pattern: Permanent,Full Time, 37 hours per week

You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.

Who We Are

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.

The Workforce Directorate works at a national level to support the delivery of NES’s strategic plan and is a key partner to the delivery of Scottish Government priorities for the health and social care workforce. It also provides a comprehensive People and Organisational Development strategy and service for the people who work for NES and externally to NHSScotland in the recruitment of medical and dental trainees and other vocational trainee groups. This role sits in the HR Function within the Workforce Directorate.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a HR Business Partner, to join our HR Business Partnering team, one of four workstreams across NES HR. This is an excellent time to join our friendly and supportive team, as the wider HR department embarks on a period of exciting change and transformation. This role will be instrumental in helping shape this journey, not only within HR but across NES.

Working across a wide portfolio of Directorates in partnership with Leaders and Managers you will deliver high quality, accurate and efficient end to end HR support, whilst helping build the organisation and people capability. You will act as an enabler working in partnership with staff and trade union partners to deliver Staff Governance Standards.

This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional candidate to be part of a thriving team, collaborating with the HR Specialist Lead and Lead HR Business Partners in partnering, coaching and influencing stakeholders at all levels, providing high quality relationship management to deliver on organisational priorities which have significant value to our staff and the organisation. You will be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, integrity and where you will be empowered to fulfil your potential.

Do you enjoy making a difference, influencing improved ways of working, and sharing innovative ideas?

Do you enjoy working with partners at all levels, communicating a shared vision and sense of purpose?

Do you enjoy rising to the challenge in a fast paced, complex and political environment?

Do you want to play a vital role in changing the way we think about strategic business partnering within NES?

Working within the HR Business Partnering Team, you will have the opportunity to bring your unique skills and experience to the table, collaborating across multiple workstreams to effect real change within NES, and further afield.

Does this sound like you?

What We Love to See

HR Business Partners offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:

• A dynamic individual who can also demonstrate initiative, enthusiasm, and a common-sense approach to deliver a range of proactive, robust and future focussed HR services.
• You will bring transferable HR knowledge and experience. You will be able to work closely and collaboratively with colleagues in situations that require HR guidance, explanation and interpretation of policy and terms and conditions and will have experience in employee relations with the ability to work at pace with a range of case management using HR best practice and employment legislation.
• You will have the ability to build trusted relationships across a range of stakeholders and have good judgement and ability to evaluate a range of potential solutions, considering the impact for customers and risk for the organisation
• You will be able to coach and support managers to build confidence and capability, and ensure policy and procedure are applied consistently and effectively with emphasis on values and behaviours across the organisation.
• The successful candidate will hold a portfolio of directorates with defined areas of responsibility to support key people related activities. The postholder will bring to the role a breadth of experience using data analytics to inform and agree actions or solutions, they will be accountable for the accuracy and recording of the workforce information that drives key result areas.
• Support the HR Business Partnering team, setting measurable performance standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and service excellence.
• Analyse workforce data to produce insightful reports that inform decision-making and support directorate priorities and improve employee experience.
• Support the design and implementation of HR toolkits, including the rollout of training to enhance capabilities. Champion innovation and efficiency in HR service delivery through technology and process improvement.
• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
• Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines

Benefits Which Matter

As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:

• Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
• Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
• NHS discounts and more

Diversity and Inclusion

Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.

We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience – regardless of the outcome.

It’s not essential to be in a HR Business Partner role right now.You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.

If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact Claire Clinton, Senior Specialist Lead HR, [e-mail]

Next Steps

Our recruitment process is currently 100% remote and if successful you would initially work remotely, working from our offices as operationally required.

All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.

Online interviews (including a presentation) will take place on between 23rd - 30^th Julyl 2025. Details of the presentation and exercise will be sent to candidates selected for interview.

For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.

Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.

If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: [e-mail]