HR Business Partner

Teaching Vacancies; Harlow; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Harlow College is seeking a proactive HR Business Partner to support managers, leaders and staff across the organisation. You will drive workplace culture, organisational effectiveness and best-practice people processes, deputise for the Executive Director of HR when needed and lead HR services across the College.

You will closely partner with senior leaders, coach managers, and ensure compliance with employment law and College policies while fostering continuous improvement and outstanding

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent required.
• Significant recent experience operating as an HR Business Partner or senior generalist in education or similar sector.
• Proven ability to manage busy employee relations caseload and partner with leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert HR guidance across employee relations, disciplinary, grievances, performance and absence management.
• Coach and support senior leaders to build high-performing teams and navigate complex people issues.
• Lead HR services delivery, oversee recruitment, data reporting and safeguarding compliance, and develop the HR team.

Skills

CIPD Level 5

HR Business Partner experience

Employee relations

Trade unions

Employment law

People leadership

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

We have an exciting opportunity to join Harlow College as an HR Business Partner, playing a key role in supporting our managers, leaders and staff across the whole organisation. As part of a forward-thinking HR team, you will be at the heart of driving positive workplace culture, organisational effectiveness and exceptional people practices.

We're looking for an experienced and proactive HR professional who thrives on building strong relationships, managing complex employee relations matters and partnering with leaders to deliver successful outcomes. If you're looking for a role where your expertise, ideas and influence will truly matter, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

As HR Business Partner, you will provide expert advice and guidance across the full spectrum of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, absence management, organisational change and restructures.

Working closely with senior leaders and managers, you will coach, challenge and support them to build high-performing teams, navigate complex people issues and ensure compliance with employment legislation and College policies.

This is an influential role with significant responsibility. You will deputise for the Executive Director of HR when required and lead the operational delivery of HR services across the College. From overseeing the employee lifecycle, recruitment and HR compliance to data reporting and safeguarding, you will help ensure our people processes are effective, compliant and fit for the future.

You will also lead and develop the HR team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and outstanding customer service.

What We Are Looking For

• Be CIPD qualified to at least Level 5.
• Have extensive current experience operating within an HR Business Partner or equivalent senior generalist HR role, ideally within Further Education or the wider education sector.
• Be experienced in managing a busy employee relations caseload.
• Have experience of working effectively with Trade Unions.
• Possess extensive knowledge of employment law and its practical application.
• Demonstrate significant experience managing complex disciplinary, grievance, organisational change and restructuring processes.
• Have experience of leading, coaching and developing staff.

What We Can Offer

In return, you'll join a supportive organisation that is committed to investing in its people. We will support your continued professional development.

Our excellent benefits package includes:

• 35 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays.
• A day off for your birthday.
• Additional 15 days of paid time off at Easter and Christmas.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives and support.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.