Interim Senior P&D Business Partner

Solent University Services Ltd; Southampton; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK educational institution is seeking an Interim Senior People and Development Business Partner to provide strategic and operational HR support across various academic schools. The role requires a CIPD Level 5 qualification, with Level 7 being desirable. The successful candidate will lead on change projects, manage employee relations cases, and coach managers in their people management responsibilities. This full-time position is located at the Southampton Campus, with a salary range of £49,559 - £57,422.

Qualifications

• Experience in identifying and delivering effective People and Development solutions.
• Ability to lead complex organisational change projects.
• Track record of managing complex employee relations cases.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational people support across academic schools.
• Coach and develop managers for effective people management.
• Monitor and evaluate employee metrics, identifying trends.

Skills

Identifying and delivering solution focused practical solutions

Leading on organisational change projects

Experience of complex employee relations cases

Experience within a Trade Union environment

Excellent communication skills

Proactive and able to influence at all levels

Education

CIPD qualified to Level 5

Level 7 desirable

Job description

Interim Senior P&D Business Partner

At Solent we care about our people experience and providing a place of work where people aspire to, and deliver, excellence.

If you are confident you could make a big impact and are willing to join an organisation with clear strategic goals, where you can take ownership of your career development, where innovation is encouraged and an organisation who are passionate about inclusivity, then we would like to hear from you.

We’re looking for someone who has a strong connection with and who shares our core values and behaviours : Respect, Ownership, Inclusivity, Engagement, Integrity and Teamwork.

School / Service People and Development Salary £49,559 - £57,422 Vacancy Type Filter Support Is a DBS check required? No Is Health Surveillance required? No Career Pathway PS - People support Terms of Contract Fixed Term Contract Type Full Time Hours per Week 37 Weeks Per Year 52 Normal Place of work Southampton Campus Employer Solent University Services Ltd Closing Date 14 / 12 / 2025 Ref No 13275 Documents

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We currently have a fantastic opportunity for an Interim Senior People and Development Business Partner to join our busy People & Development team on a three month fixed term contract basis starting in January 2026.

You will be CIPD qualified to Level 5 (Level 7 desirable)

This role will involve the successful candidate working as a strategic partner across a dedicated portfolio of academic schools and Professional Services to deliver an excellent and all encompassing service, in line with their needs and priorities, whilst ensuring the delivery of their strategic plans, you will have the skills and knowledge to quickly build confident partnering relationships.

You will provide a full range of strategic and operational support across key people areas such as recruitment and selection, performance management, employee relations, reward and benefits, organisational development and change management that will benefit and influence throughout the entire employee life cycle.

You will also be responsible for coaching, developing and advising managers to enable them to fully undertake their people management role and embed leadership behaviours.

The role requires you to regularly monitor, track and evaluate data relating to key employee BP metrics, such as employee relations cases and leaver interviews, identifying trends, providing recommendations for improvements and sharing this information with PDMT and senior leaders.

You will be in an influential position coaching, mentoring, developing, and advising the People and Development Officer assisting them with their workload planning, reviewing their professional advice and enabling them to develop in their role. You will also transfer this skill set to colleagues within the People and Development department supporting, guiding, coaching and advising them.

We are looking for candidates who have experience of the following :

• Identifying and delivering solution focused practical and effective People and Development solutions within the framework of organisational policies and procedures.
• Leading on organisational change projects with senior leaders resulting in clearly defined outcomes and the successful achievement of financial targets.
• Experience of complex employee relations cases and employment tribunals
• Experience of operating and liaising successfully within a Trade Union environment
• Being able to work with pace and make sound decisions in a changeable work environment
• Proactive in approach whilst able to challenge and influence at all levels
• Having excellent communication skills with attention to detail
• Being empathetic whilst commercially minded when required