Senior Director, Policy, Strategy & Employee Relations

CamWebDir; Chelmsford, Cambridge, Peterborough; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Occupational pension schemes

Training and development opportunities

Travel to work scheme

Relocation package

Job summary

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is seeking an exceptional senior HR leader to steer employment policy, strategic employee relations and workforce governance across a diverse university community. Based in Chelmsford with travel to campuses, this full-time role reports to the Chief People Officer and shapes modern, legally robust employment frameworks.

You’ll lead policy development, oversee collective agreements, advise on complex matters, and drive organisational change with data-driven insight.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment law, employee relations, contracts, collective agreements and workforce governance.
• Experience of organisational change, job evaluation, contractual frameworks and board-level reporting.
• Excellent negotiation, consultation, analytical and communication skills.
• A strategic, commercially aware and solutions-focused approach, combined with integrity, resilience and discretion.
• A higher degree or relevant professional qualification with significant demonstrable experience; HR, employment law or related postgraduate study is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Shape, implement and continuously improve employment policies, contracts, terms and conditions, promotion arrangements and workforce frameworks.
• Build constructive relationships with recognised trade unions, oversee collective agreements and consultation processes, and provide authoritative advice on complex and high-risk matters.
• Partner with senior colleagues to deliver major organisational change, translating employment law, workforce intelligence and sector developments into practical solutions.
• Produce high-quality papers and recommendations for senior committees and governing bodies, ensuring robust compliance with remuneration and wider governance requirements.
• Oversee pay and pensions policy and governance, job evaluation, grading arrangements, and the effective use of external legal expertise.
• Coach leaders and HR colleagues, and use data, benchmarking and legal intelligence to identify risks, opportunities and priorities.

Skills

Employment law

Employee relations

Contract frameworks

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical

Education

Higher degree

HR or employment law qualification

Job description

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is seeking an exceptional senior HR leader to steer employment policy, strategic employee relations and workforce governance across a diverse university community. Based in Chelmsford with travel to campuses, this full-time role reports to the Chief People Officer and shapes modern, legally robust employment frameworks.

You’ll lead policy development, oversee collective agreements, advise on complex matters, and drive organisational change with data-driven insight.