People Partner

Midwifery at the University; Frenchay; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Progressive pay rates

Generous annual leave

Career pension scheme

Onsite nursery

Training and development

Job summary

UWE Bristol is seeking an experienced HR professional to join our People Services team as a People Partner. You will provide advisory and partnering services to managers and staff across the University, handling a large employee relations caseload with a focus on fair, timely resolutions.

You will work with Advisory Services Manager, People Partners and Advisors to ensure effective case management and contribute to organisational initiatives while supporting campus-based operations at Frenchay.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of managing a large and complex employee relations caseload.
• Experience advising managers on organisational change, including restructures and redeployment.
• Excellent communication, coaching, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment law.

Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse and complex employee relations caseload.
• Provide expert advice on attendance, conduct, capability, grievances and flexible working requests.
• Support managers with organisational change and redundancy processes.
• Work with Trade Union representatives to resolve matters fairly and promptly.
• Contribute to wider People Services initiatives and projects.

Skills

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

Coaching & negotiation

Analytical thinking

Autonomous working

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

CIPD Level 5 (or nearing completion)

Job description

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Support during the application process: If you’re a person with a disability, if you're neurodivergent, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our selection process, we’ll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to our processes for you. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know about any adjustments you may need throughout the application and selection process. We’ll continue this conversation if you join us as an employee, and we’ll work with you to make sure you have the adjustments you need to succeed in your role.

Examples of adjustments could include:

• Extra time for online assessments.
• Providing alternative accessible formats.
• Interview questions in advance of the interview.
• Providing some extra information about what to expect.
• Office orientation before an in-person assessment.

The job information is shown below. Please click on the links to see full details.

Are you an experienced HR professional with a passion for employee relations, problem solving and delivering excellent people services?

At UWE Bristol, our People Partners provide a professional advisory and partnering service to managers and staff across the University. Working within a collaborative People Services team, you will support managers at all levels to navigate complex people matters, balancing organisational needs with a supportive, solutions-focused approach.

This role will have a significant focus on managing a diverse and complex employee relations caseload. You will provide expert advice and guidance on a range of issues including attendance management, conduct, capability, grievances, flexible working requests, operational change, job evaluation and workplace conflict. You will work closely with managers and Trade Union representatives to ensure matters are resolved fairly, consistently and at the earliest opportunity wherever possible.

As part of our commitment to promoting informal and early resolution, you will bring strong coaching, influencing and relationship-building skills, enabling you to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes. You will also have opportunities to contribute to wider People Services initiatives and projects where business needs allow.

Working alongside the Advisory Services Manager, People Partners and People Advisors, you will play an important role in sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues, ensuring effective case management and maintaining a responsive, high-quality service for the University community.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive and experienced People Services team at UWE Bristol, where you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on staff experience while developing your own professional expertise in a complex and diverse organisational environment.

We would like the successful candidate to be able to start immediately.

About You

You will be a knowledgeable and credible HR professional with:

• Significant experience of managing a large and complex employee relations caseload within a sizeable and complex organisation.
• Experience of advising managers on organisational change, including restructures, workforce planning, redeployment and redundancy processes.
• Excellent communication, coaching, influencing and negotiation skills.
• The ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to provide clear, pragmatic advice on complex people issues.
• The ability to work autonomously whilst contributing effectively as part of a supportive team.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and delivering excellent customer service.

You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), hold a CIPD Level 5 qualification (or be nearing completion), and possess up-to-date knowledge of employment law.

Experience of working within Higher Education would be advantageous, although not essential.

Where you will be working

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, with vibrant campus communities that are central to student life.

In this role, you’ll be based at our modern Frenchay Campus where we’ve invested in state-of-the-art facilities designed to help both staff and students succeed.

You’ll spend most of your time on campus, typically 60 percent of your time, with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days.

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in vibrant Bristol , our ambitions are to make a positive difference to our planet, transforming futures through actions and solving real world challenges.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, very generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

We’re part of a vibrant, multicultural city and welcome talented people from all backgrounds. Diversity is our strength, enhancing creativity, decision‑making, and problem‑solving. Join our supportive community and thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority candidates as we are currently under‑represented in this area, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer, we encourage applications from disabled or neurodivergent candidates.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role, please contact Rebecca England email: [e-mail]

Shortlisting is expected to be completed within 2 weeks of the closing date depending on application volumes. We aim to give candidates at least a week's notice to attend interview.

This is a full-time, fixed-term post for 6 months, working 37 hours per week.

Flexible working arrangements will be considered, including applications from candidates seeking a 0.8 FTE working pattern.

Salary offers are made in line with the University’s salary assessment guidelines, reflecting your relevant skills and experience in parity with colleagues.

Right to Work in the UK

If offered a role, you will need to provide valid documentation confirming your right to work in the UK before employment begins. Guidance on acceptable documents is available via the Home Office Right to Work Checklist . Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

We’ll keep you informed of the outcome by email once shortlisting is complete.