HR People Manager

Advance HE; Heslington; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

USS Pension

31 days leave + bank holidays

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Office base in York

Job summary

Advance HE is seeking two HR People Managers to join our team, delivering strategic and hands-on HR support in a hybrid role with an office in York (YO10 5DG). One permanent and one fixed-term contract until July 2028 are available.

The role covers employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, payroll and policy work to enhance the employee experience across the organisation. You'll partner with managers, shape people initiatives, and help drive improvements in processes and employee lifecycle

Qualifications

• Broad HR generalist experience across employee relations, recruitment, onboarding and payroll.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and best practice.
• Experience with workforce planning, change management and HR policy development.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert HR advice to managers on employee relations, grievances and performance matters.
• Coach leaders to handle people issues fairly and consistently.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding to ensure a positive candidate experience.
• Support organisational change, restructures, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Oversee payroll, pensions, benefits and HR operations.

Skills

HR generalist

Employee relations

Recruitment & onboarding

Payroll operations

HRIS & data reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

CIPD Level 5

Tools

Payroll systems

HRIS

Job description

HR People Manager

Location: These roles are hybrid with an office base in York, YO10 5DG. Average attendance expected at 4 days per month.

Salary: £44,642 per annum + Excellent Benefits!

Contract: We have two positions available, one permanent and one as a Fixed Term Contract until July 2028.

Benefits: A generous pension plan with USS, Enhanced family leave benefits, 31 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays, Flexible working hours and Hybrid work (nominal office in York)

Are you an experienced HR professional who enjoys combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery

Advance HE is looking for two People Managers to join its team and play an important role in creating a positive employee experience, supporting managers and helping the organisation continue to develop and grow.

Advance HE works with higher education institutions in the UK and internationally, supporting the sector to improve and enhance higher education. Its work spans areas including leadership and governance, teaching and learning, equality, diversity and inclusion, helping institutions and individuals achieve positive and lasting change.

This is a varied generalist HR opportunity where you'll work closely with managers and leaders across the organisation, providing expert advice while helping to shape people initiatives, improve processes and deliver an excellent experience throughout the employee lifecycle.

There are two opportunities available: one permanent position and one fixed-term contract until July 2028.

What you'll be doing:

No two days will necessarily look the same. You'll act as a trusted people partner to managers and leaders, balancing day-to-day HR support with wider organisational priorities.

• Providing expert advice across employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability, flexible working and performance matters
• Coaching managers to handle people matters fairly, confidently and consistently
• Supporting organisational change, restructures, workforce planning and wider people projects
• Leading recruitment and onboarding activity to create an excellent candidate and new-starter experience
• Supporting performance, engagement, wellbeing, recognition and culture initiatives
• Overseeing key HR operations including payroll, pensions, benefits, starters, leavers and contractual changes
• Taking ownership of the HRIS and using workforce data to generate meaningful insights
• Developing and reviewing people policies and ensuring they remain aligned with UK employment legislation and best practice
• Identifying opportunities to continuously improve the employee experience and the way people services are delivered

What are we looking for

You'll be an experienced HR generalist who can build trusted relationships across an organisation and is comfortable moving between operational detail and the bigger picture.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Broad generalist HR experience, ideally at HR Business Partner level
• Strong employee relations experience and confidence advising managers on complex cases
• Good working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning, recruitment and onboarding
• Experience with day-to-day UK payroll operations, HR systems and workforce reporting
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• An analytical approach, with the confidence to use data to support recommendations and decisions
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• A proactive, customer-focused approach and an enthusiasm for continuous improvement
• A CIPD Level 5 qualification, be working towards one, or have equivalent professional experience alongside a commitment to continued professional development
• Advance HE is a member-led, sector-owned charity that works with institutions and higher education across the world to improve higher education for staff, students and society.

Our strategic goals to enhance confidence and trust in higher education, address systemic inequalities and advance education to meet the evolving needs of students and society, supports the work of our members and the sector.

We are experts in higher education with a particular focus on enhancing teaching and learning, effective governance, leadership development and tackling inequalities through our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work.

We deliver our support through professional development programmes and events, Fellowships, awards, student surveys, providing strategic change and consultancy services and through membership (including accreditation of teaching and learning, equality charters, research, knowledge and resources).

Using our expertise and sharing best practice, we work with our network of global associates and partners, and with people, providers and systems around the world to understand contexts and challenges and deliver solutions.

It is our people and the people we help that really make us who we are.

Advance HE is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background.