Human Resources Business Partner in Specialised Services

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Bristol is seeking a passionate and experienced HR Business Partner to join their workforce team. You will play a strategic role in shaping the workforce agenda and lead initiatives on workforce planning and development in a complex environment. The ideal candidate should hold a chartered MCIPD qualification and possess substantial management experience in a large organization.

Qualifications

• Substantial recent management experience as HR practitioner.
• Clear understanding of employment legislation and case law.
• Experience in workforce planning and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of strategic workforce plans.
• Support complex organizational change within the Division.
• Monitor compliance and effectiveness of HR policies.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

HR Management

Analytical Skills

Change Management

Education

Chartered MCIPD qualified

Post Graduate Management Qualification/MBA

Job description

Overview

Go back University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

The closing date is 02 October 2025

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a passionate, experienced, and forward-thinking HR professional to join our dynamic workforce team as a HR Business Partner for the Division of Specialised Services.

The Division of Specialised Services includes the Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and Clinical Genetics.

This Division employs around 1300 WTE staff working in Clinical and Medical Oncology, Clinical Haematology, Palliative care, Radiotherapy, Clinical Genetics, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging, Cardiac Anaesthesia and Cardiac Intensive Care.

As an integral member of both the Senior Management Team and Divisional Board, you will play a strategic and influential role in shaping and delivering the Division's workforce agenda.

The Division of Specialised Services encompasses a diverse range of clinical and non-clinical staff, including Medical & Dental, Nursing, AHPs, Healthcare Scientists, and Administrative teams. In this role, you will lead the development and implementation of strategic workforce plans, support complex organisational change and transformation, & foster a culture of high performance & continuous improvement.

In return, you'll join a supportive, innovative team and be given the opportunity to further develop your leadership and strategic HR skills.

Main duties of the job

Strategic Management

• To understand and translate the Trust's key drivers and challenges to enable planning and delivery of an effective people strategy aligned to business strategy and Trust objectives.
• To contribute to the achievement of the Trust's strategic goals and priorities by ensuring that employee policy, practice and delivery are co-ordinated, effective and strategic.

Workforce planning and resourcing

• Provide strategic, specialist advice to the Division on the workforce impacts and implications of short to long term business planning, enabling the Divisions to meet present and future business challenges and provide best quality patient care which meets financial targets. These may include:
  • working with the Head of HR Service Centre to develop effective recruitment and retention strategies
  • development of appropriate staffing plans and establishment
  • strategies to deliver on financial recovery plans
  • developing succession and talent management plans

Divisional and Trust Responsibilities

• As a member of the Divisional Core Management Team and Divisional Board(s), to contribute to the development of the Divisional strategy, business plans, project management and operational decision-making, which enable Divisional and Corporate aims and objectives to be achieved.
• To design and implement appropriate audits to monitor compliance and effectiveness of HR policies and procedures, providing reports and recommendations as appropriate

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Chartered MCIPD qualified or equivalent qualification/experience to Masters Level
• Post Graduate Management Qualification/MBA

Knowledge and Experience

• Substantial recent management experience as generalist HR practitioner/business partner at a senior level in a large complex organisation
• Current and accurate knowledge of employment legislation and case law and its application to a wide range of professional groups
• Extensive experience demonstrating competence across highly complex employee relations matters
• Experience of providing people management services to a wide range of staff from different professional or occupational backgrounds
• Experience of training, coaching or facilitation in HR/OD
• Demonstrable experience of Business Planning and Service Redesign
• Demonstrable evidence of large service Change and Improvement programmes
• Previous management experience, demonstrating ability to provide direction, enable others to perform and holding to account for performance
• Extensive experience of formalised workforce planning, key workforce information and delivery
• Clear understanding and experience of Budget Management and efficiency responsibilities
• Experience of successfully leading and delivering on HR/OD projects and designing/ using OD interventions to facilitate and implement change
• Experience of policy review and development
• Knowledge of the current HR agenda in the NHS, healthcare reforms and how this supports service provision, performance and improvement
• Project management experience with a range of Stakeholders, delivering to time, cost and quality
• Experience of working in a unionised environment

Skills and Abilities

• Able to demonstrate commercial and business acumen and an understanding of how high impact HROD can positively impact on the patient experience, quality and efficiency agenda and organisational goals
• Ability to interpret and analyse workforce reports, financial reports, complex legal decisions and case law
• Clear analytical skills
• Ability to work to deadlines and exhibit excellent organisational skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Demonstrable skills in Strategic Thinking on Workforce issues

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)