Senior HR Business Partner

Loughborough University; Loughborough; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off

Where you work

Financial wellbeing

Support for you

Health & wellbeing

Travel & sustainability

Job summary

Loughborough University is seeking a Senior HR Business Partner for a part-time, hybrid role (0.8 FTE, 4 days per week) based in Loughborough. You will join the HR Senior Leadership team, guiding organisational design, people policy and strategic workforce planning while partnering with Estates & Facilities Management, Technical Services and other Schools.

You will provide strategic HR leadership to senior stakeholders, manage complex issues, collaborate with trade unions where needed, and help

Qualifications

• Substantial experience of working within an HR function in a large, complex organisation is essential.
• Proven track record of partnering with senior leaders and working effectively with trade unions.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Organisational Design and People Policy.
• Provide strategic HR leadership and partnering support across Estates and Facilities Management, Technical Services, and other schools/professional services.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to shape people strategies and ensure delivery of People and Culture objectives.
• Drive strategic workforce planning and HR transformation initiatives.

Skills

Strategic HR

Stakeholder engagement

HR leadership

Organisational Design

Trade unions experience

Education

CIPD Chartered Member

Job description

The University is dedicated to supporting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment - to create better futures, together. The diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community are our great strength and are key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritized groups as they are currently under-represented within our community.

We recognise the value of a fulfilling and balanced work and personal life which promotes wellbeing. We seek to support colleagues in achieving this balance and have family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and many roles can be suitable for dynamic working arrangement. This includes considering applications to work on a part‑time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

We are proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer—so much so that we go beyond the standard, providing additional supplementary payments at specific pay points to further support our employees' financial wellbeing. Further information about the Loughborough Real Living Wage Supplement can be found on our HR webpage .

Loughborough University is a UKVI Sponsor. Some individuals may require sponsorship to enable them to apply for a visa to provide them with the right to work in the UK. Please note certain roles are not eligible for sponsorship. For further information and eligibility please visit the UKVI website .

Job details

Job title Senior HR Business Partner Job reference REQ260724 Date posted 01/10/2026 Application closing date 21/10/2026 Location Loughborough Package Management and Specialist grade 7 from £47,389 to £56,535 per annum pro rata. Subject to annual pay award.

Human Resources

Part time (0.8 FTE, 4 days per week), Open ended, Hybrid role. Working days to be agreed with the successful candidate.

About the Role and HR Department

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior HR Business Partner role at Loughborough University. There has never been a better time to join us as we continue our journey of transformation enabling the university to deliver its strategy, Creating Better Futures. Together.

As a member of the HR Senior Leadership team, you will help shape and deliver our exciting HR transformation journey as we continue to evolve our service into the future and enable the delivery of the university People and Culture Strategy.

As well as providing strategic HR advice on complex issues, as a Senior HR Business Partner you will lead on the following:

• Organisational Design

• People and Culture

• People Policy

• Strategic Workforce Planning

You will provide strategic HR leadership and partnering support across a portfolio comprising of our Estates and Facilities Management Department, Technical Services, and some other Schools and Professional Services. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will support the delivery of organisational priorities whilst providing senior technical HR advice.

This is a diverse and high-profile portfolio. Key areas include:

• Estates and Facilities Management are responsible for the effective and sustainable management of the University's land, buildings and infrastructure, delivering a diverse range of services that underpin the student and staff experience. Its remit includes the University's capital building and refurbishment programmes, maintenance of our extensive 523-acre single‑site campus, and the provision of accommodation, hospitality and catering services for students, staff and visitors.

• Technical Services is a University‑wide Directorate providing specialist technical expertise and support across a diverse range of disciplines, including Chemistry, Engineering, Geography, Textiles and many others. Comprising approximately 170 technical tutors, managers and specialists, the service supports both teaching and research activities through the management and operation of laboratories, workshops, studios and other specialist facilities. Working closely with academic schools, Technical Services plays a key role in delivering safe, innovative and effective learning and research environments, while ensuring compliance, health and safety, and the effective management of technical facilities across the University.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for a HR professional qualified to Chartered Member level of the CIPD and who thinks beyond processes, partnering with stakeholders across Schools and Professional Services to shape and influence people strategies with confidence.

Substantial experience of working within an HR function in a large, complex organisation is essential, alongside a proven track record of partnering with senior leaders, strong HR technical expertise, and experience of working effectively with trade unions.

For more information refer to the Job Description and Person Specification .

Our Benefits

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:

• Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.

• Where you work - access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

• Financial Wellbeing - competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.

• Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on‑site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.

• Health and Wellbeing - discounted gym memberships and access to world‑class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.

• Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle‑to‑work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.