Lead HR Business Partner

Spirehouse Recruitment; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

41 days annual leave

Generous pension

Job summary

The University of Cambridge is seeking a seasoned Lead HR Business Partner to join the Human Resources Division in Cambridge, offering hybrid working. The role provides strategic HR leadership and advisory support to senior management, shaping people strategies across a complex organisation.

You will guide organisational change, manage high‑level employee relations, and lead major HR projects while ensuring people priorities align with institutional objectives and overall university strategy.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR experience within a complex organisation.
• Proven track record leading organisational change and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience delivering strategic people solutions aligned with objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR contribution to strategic and operational planning.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify and deliver strategic people priorities.
• Lead organisational change programmes and workforce planning.
• Provide expert advice on complex employee relations matters.
• Deliver HR projects and initiatives at university level.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders and HR colleagues.

Skills

Senior HR experience

Organisational change

Influencing stakeholders

HR strategy

Communication & negotiation

Employee relations

HR analytics

Team leadership

Collaborative leadership

CIPD membership (advantageous)

Education

CIPD membership or equivalent

Job description

Lead HR Business Partner

Division: Human Resources

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £63,606–£67,468 per annum

Location: Cambridge, with hybrid working

Working Arrangement: Full-time, Hybrid

Essential Requirement: Significant senior-level HR experience, with a proven ability to lead organisational change, influence senior stakeholders and deliver strategic people solutions within a complex organisation.

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead HR Business Partner to join the Human Resources Division at the University of Cambridge, one of the world's leading academic institutions.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior leaders, providing expert HR advice and shaping people strategies that support academic excellence, organisational effectiveness and institutional priorities.

You will act as a trusted adviser to senior management teams, leading the development and delivery of strategic HR initiatives while ensuring people priorities are aligned with wider University objectives.

This is a highly visible and influential role, requiring an individual who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You will play a key part in leading organisational change, managing complex employee relations matters, delivering major HR projects and influencing decision-making at the highest levels.

The role offers an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the University's people agenda, working collaboratively with senior stakeholders and HR colleagues to deliver meaningful and lasting organisational change.

The Role

You will provide strategic HR leadership and business partnering support to your designated client areas, working alongside senior management teams to understand organisational challenges, identify workforce priorities and develop effective people solutions.

A key aspect of the role will be leading organisational change and advising on complex and high-risk employee relations matters, ensuring that HR interventions are aligned with institutional objectives, employment legislation and best practice.

You will also lead and contribute to strategic and operational HR projects, using workforce data and insight to inform decision-making, strengthen organisational effectiveness and support continuous improvement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the HR contribution to strategic and operational planning, ensuring people priorities support wider institutional objectives.
• Partnering with senior leaders to identify, develop and deliver strategic people priorities.
• Leading organisational change programmes, workforce planning and wider organisational development initiatives.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on complex and high-risk employee relations matters.
• Leading and delivering University-wide and local HR projects and initiatives.
• Building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, HR colleagues and trade union representatives.
• Using workforce data, management information and insight to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Providing leadership, direction and support to HR teams within your designated client areas.
• Identifying opportunities to improve HR services, processes and organisational effectiveness.
• Influencing senior-level decision-making and supporting the delivery of sustainable organisational change.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience working in a senior HR role within a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of leading organisational change and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic people solutions aligned with organisational objectives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations matters and providing sound, pragmatic HR advice.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret workforce data and translate organisational priorities into effective HR actions.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing HR teams.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the commitment to continuous improvement and organisational effectiveness.
• The ability to balance strategic priorities with practical operational delivery.

CIPD membership or equivalent professional experience would be advantageous.

Benefits

The University of Cambridge offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment, contributing to the success of one of the world's leading universities.

Alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution at a senior level, the University offers:

• Excellent opportunities for professional development, learning and career progression.
• Generous pension provision.
• 41 days annual leave, including public holidays.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Access to CAMbens employee benefits and retail discounts.
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support services.
• The opportunity to influence strategic people priorities and help shape the future of the University.