People Partner (Part Time)

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a dynamic People Partner to enhance workplace culture and employee experience. The role involves collaborating with leadership on strategic initiatives, supporting change management, and promoting a positive environment. Ideal candidates will have extensive HR experience, preferably in a unionized setting, and knowledge of current trends in higher education.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Competitive pension scheme

Comprehensive wellbeing programme

Learning and development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Family-friendly policies

Staff discounts

Recognition schemes

Qualifications

• Knowledge of current challenges in the Higher Education sector is preferable.
• Experience in HR including reward, employee relations, and training.

Responsibilities

• Foster an inclusive and equitable workplace culture.
• Co-create innovative people solutions in collaboration with leadership teams.
• Support the delivery of change programmes.

Skills

Knowledge of OD tools and techniques

Up to date HR best practices

Experience in a unionised environment

Delivery of change programmes

Ability to promote positive culture

Commercial Awareness

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Thinking

Service Excellence

Change Management

Continuous Improvement

People Advocacy and Culture

Collaboration

Influencing

Professionally qualified (MCIPD)

Education

MCIPD or broad-based business qualification

Job description

Join the University of Manchester

We’re excited to be recruiting a dynamic and motivated People Partner to join our People Team at The University of Manchester.

About The Role

The People Partnering team plays a pivotal role within the university and the People Directorate, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace culture, and enhancing the employee experience through strategic people-focused initiatives. The partnering team works collaboratively with all leadership teams to ensure that people priorities and plans are established and set the university, teams and individuals up for success. With the support of Centers of Expertise and People Services teams, the partnering team will co-create innovative and future-focused people solutions in response to university current and emerging priorities.

Essential Skills

• Knowledge and/or experience of applying OD tools and techniques.
• Up to date knowledge of best practice, current innovations, trends and developments in HR and understands the relevance to the University and its goals.
• Experience of working as a HR / People Partner in a unionised environment.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting the successful delivery of change programmes in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience successfully promoting a positive and enabling culture that puts the people experience at the heart of service delivery.
• Commercial Awareness – Has the ability to connect people requirements to the priorities and performance goals of the University.
• Strategic Thinking – Carefully considers known organisational factors and drivers and can integrate these into people plans and priorities. Demonstrates ability to integrate organisational strengths and development areas into people plans in response to internal and external influencers.
• Analytical Thinking – Uses multiple sources of information and data. Translates insights into a people narrative that turns discussions into tangible recommendations, actions and solutions. Is curious about trends and has the drive to investigate root cause and effect.
• Service Excellence – Delivers agreed priorities effectively and in a timely manner. Champions efficient delivery methods including automation and self-serve approaches. Has a continuous improvement mindset and frequently identifies and delivers improvements to service delivery.
• Change Management – Uses organisational knowledge to lead design and people change conversations. Demonstrates the ability to translate commercial, financial, strategic and operational priorities into clear and achievable change initiatives with clear delivery plans.
• Continuous Improvement – Demonstrates a consistent continuous improvement mindset, applying principles across all stands of delivery in the people plan. Can translate process steps into people experiences and evolving business needs and is a key contributor to CI solutions.
• People Advocacy and Culture – Takes a people-centered approach to the design of people plans, delivery and resolution of conflict. Translates stakeholder priorities into tangible people experiences. Champions the people experience and coaches leadership teams in taking a people-centered approach.
• Collaboration – Actively builds and maintains collaborative and long-lasting internal and external relationships. Works effectively with key stakeholders to identify and understand priorities and challenges, requirements and to agree on range of people priorities in response to stakeholder needs.
• Influencing – Leverages trust and collaborative relationships to build support for ideas. Can anticipate and mitigate for potential barriers and resistance. Can present ideas in the context of benefits to stakeholder priorities.
• Professionally qualified – either MCIPD or broad-based business qualification supported by practical HR experience in all aspects of HR, including reward, employee relations/engagement, resourcing, and training & development.

As an ideal candidate you will have

• Knowledge of the Higher Education sector current challenges and opportunities is preferable.

Why Work with Us

As one of the UK’s leading universities and a member of the prestigious Russell Group, The University of Manchester is recognised globally for excellence in teaching, research, and social responsibility. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to offer a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits Include

• Generous annual leave, including Christmas/New Year closure
• Membership of a competitive pension scheme
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including counselling, fitness, and leading sports facilities.
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
• Season ticket loans and Cycle to Work scheme
• Workplace nursery scheme and family-friendly policies
• Staff discounts on travel, retail and services
• Staff recognition schemes celebrating outstanding contributions

Our Community

With 25 Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students, we have a proud history of world-first discoveries – from splitting the atom to giving the world graphene. Our commitment to research, teaching, and social responsibility shapes everything we do.

Inclusion and Belonging

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and valued. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments will be made on merit.

How To Apply

This vacancy will close at midnight on the closing date. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that any CVs submitted by recruitment agencies will be treated as a gift.

Enquiries

Name: Jen Pass, Talent Acquisition Business Partner

Email: [e-mail]

For general enquiries: [e-mail]

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