HR Business Partner

GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in the City of London seeks an HR Business Partner to deliver strategic HR initiatives in a dynamic environment. This role demands strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management. Candidates should possess a CIPD qualification and have a deep understanding of UK employment law, ideally within Higher Education or the arts sector. The position includes leading a small team of HR Advisors and supporting organizational goals in diversity and inclusion. The role is eligible for hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Qualified CIPD (or equivalent) or equivalent professional credential.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and experience in Higher Education and/or the arts sector.
• Proven experience in coaching and leading HR teams.
• Excellent IT and data-analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior leaders on a range of HR matters.
• Deliver expert advice on employee relations, recruitment, learning, and development.
• Coach and develop a small team of HR advisors.
• Champion inclusive practices and support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

Skills

Knowledge of UK employment law

Leadership experience in HR

Excellent IT skills

Data analysis skills

Education

Qualified CIPD or equivalent professional credential

Job description

HR Business Partner

Department: Human Resources

Job Type: Full time, permanent

Grade: E

Salary Range: £49,140 to £55,000 per annum (inclusive of Inner London Weighting)

Guildhall School is a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors and production artists located in the heart of the City of London.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the HR Team as an HR Business Partner, working closely with the Head of HR and fellow Business Partners to deliver strategic HR initiatives within a Higher Education environment. You will act as a trusted HR generalist, building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management, while providing expert advice across employee relations, recruitment, learning and development, and job evaluation.

In addition, you will lead and develop a team of 2.5 HR Advisors, coaching and supporting them to ensure the delivery of high‑quality HR services that drive engagement and support the achievement of organisational goals.

Qualifications

• Qualified CIPD (or equivalent) or equivalent professional credential
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and experience in Higher Education and/or the arts sector
• Proven experience in coaching and leading HR teams
• Excellent IT and data‑analysis skills

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted HR generalist, advising senior leaders on a range of HR matters
• Deliver expert advice on employee relations, recruitment, learning and development, and job evaluation
• Coach and develop a small team of HR advisors to deliver high‑quality services
• Champion inclusive practices and support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives

Additional Information

• This role is eligible for hybrid working.
• Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 12 January 2026.
• Interviews will be held w/c Monday 19 January 2026.
• All applications must include a completed application form. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
• Quoting reference number OOGS9266 will be required for all applications.

Guildhall School welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are particularly keen to encourage interest from people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, Black, Asian, and other global majority backgrounds who are currently under‑represented at Guildhall School. In recognising the positive value of diversity, we want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve.

We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. We support and provide adjustments for people with disabilities – if you have a disability and need help with the application process please contact us.

Guildhall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

The City of London Corporation is committed to ensuring that pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable. We regularly benchmark and review pay across the whole organisation and against external sectors.