Human Resources Business Partner

Rochdale Council; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Professional development support

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Rochdale Borough Council is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to join the Workforce & Organisational Development Team. You will partner with senior leaders to shape workforce strategies and deliver high-quality people solutions that benefit residents and staff.

You will lead strategic and operational HR support across services, aligning workforce plans with priorities while fostering positive and inclusive workplaces.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualification and current CIPD membership.
• Experience in a large, complex organisation.
• Experience operating within a Business Partnering model.
• Proven track record supporting organisational change and transformation.
• Excellent knowledge of employment law, equality legislation and HR best practice.
• Ability to translate complex issues into practical, workable solutions.
• Experience developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Comfortable presenting robust and persuasive recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Experience working in a unionised environment.
• Excellent communication with coaching and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as the lead HR contact for senior managers and leadership teams.
• Support major organisational change, workforce planning and service transformation programmes.
• Provide strategic and operational advice on complex employee relations issues.
• Lead or contribute to corporate HR projects and policy development.
• Coach and develop managers in managing workforce challenges confidently and effectively.
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions and stakeholders, supporting positive employee relations.
• Interpret employment legislation and emerging workforce trends, translating these into practical business solutions.
• Develop innovative approaches to workforce challenges that balance organisational needs with positive employee experiences.

Skills

Business Partnering

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

Employment law knowledge

Communication

Coaching managers

Education

CIPD Level 5 or above

CIPD membership

Job description

HR Business Partner

Workforce & Organisational Development 37 hours per week Permanent Grade: 10

HR leadership that makes a difference

Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives on influencing strategic decision-making, leading organisational change and helping services achieve their ambitions?

At Rochdale Borough Council, we are looking for an outstanding HR Business Partner to join our Workforce & Organisational Development Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, partnering with senior leaders to shape workforce strategies, support transformational change and deliver high-quality people solutions that make a real difference to our borough and communities.

As a trusted adviser to senior managers and leadership teams, you will provide professional, commercially aware and solution-focused HR support across a varied portfolio of services. You will work closely with managers to ensure workforce plans align with organisational priorities, helping services to deliver excellent outcomes for residents whilst creating positive and inclusive workplaces.

About the Role

• Act as the lead HR contact for senior managers and leadership teams.
• Support major organisational change, workforce planning and service transformation programmes.
• Provide strategic and operational advice on complex employee relations issues.
• Lead or contribute to corporate HR projects and policy development.
• Coach and develop managers in managing workforce challenges confidently and effectively.
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions and stakeholders, supporting positive employee relations.
• Interpret employment legislation and emerging workforce trends, translating these into practical business solutions.
• Develop innovative approaches to workforce challenges that balance organisational needs with positive employee experiences.

About You

• Be CIPD qualified to Level 5 or above and hold current CIPD membership.
• Have significant HR experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrate experience of operating within a Business Partnering model.
• Have a successful track record of supporting organisational change and transformation.
• Possess excellent knowledge of employment law, equality legislation and HR best practice.
• Be capable of translating complex issues into practical, workable solutions.
• Have experience of developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Be comfortable presenting robust and persuasive recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Have experience of working within a unionised environment.
• Be an excellent communicator with strong coaching and stakeholder management skills.

Why Rochdale?

At Rochdale Borough Council, we're proud of our people and ambitious for our future. We are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to our communities.

Succeed at Rochdale

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement, increasing after 5 years service.
• Support for professional development and career progression.
• Workplace wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Professional membership reimbursement (where applicable).
• Lifestyle savings and employee discount schemes.
• A culture of learning, collaboration and innovation.
• The opportunity to work on high-profile, meaningful projects that directly impact services and communities.

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

• Proud of the difference we make
• Passionate about the diversity of our borough
• Pioneering & Open in our approach

Interested?

If you are looking for a strategic HR role where you can influence organisational direction, support transformational change and make a genuine difference across a large and diverse organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a sponsorship for this role