Service Manager - HR Business Partnering Team

Connect2Halton; Widnes; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive hourly rate

Job summary

Halton Borough Council is seeking an experienced Lead HR Business Partner to guide and develop the HRBP team through a period of change. The role combines strategic and hands-on delivery, advising senior managers and shaping people strategies to improve service delivery.

You will lead the HRBP function, coach managers, manage complex employee relations, and ensure compliant practice across the council. Hybrid working and a 37-hour week are offered with a competitive hourly rate.

Qualifications

• Experience leading HRBP teams in complex/public sector environments.
• Strong knowledge of employee relations and employment law.
• Proven ability to advise and influence senior managers.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases and organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coach and develop the HRBP team, including objective setting, performance management, mentoring and capability development.
• Provide clear direction and support to the team during a period of change and organisational challenge.
• Build strong team relationships, encouraging collaboration, consistency and the sharing of best practice.
• Work closely with the Head of HR Operations and HR Leadership Team to shape and deliver people strategies, initiatives and service improvements.
• Act as a strategic and operational HR Business Partner to a designated area of the Council, developing strong relationships with senior managers and service leaders.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on complex employee relations matters, including discipline, grievance, absence, performance, capability and organisational change.
• Support HRBPs and HR Advisors with complex or sensitive cases, ensuring appropriate risk management, escalation and resolution.
• Coach and empower managers to improve their people management capability and confidently manage change.
• Ensure employment legislation, ACAS guidance, Council policies and terms and conditions are appropriately interpreted and applied.
• Maintain an overview of employee relations across relevant service areas and identify opportunities to improve employee relations and workforce effectiveness.
• Support the continued development and embedding of the Council's Business Partnering model and identify opportunities to improve HR service delivery.
• Work collaboratively across the wider HR function, including HR Operations, Resourcing, Organisational Development, Pay and Reward and other specialist areas.
• Develop strong and constructive relationships with Trade Unions and contribute to effective partnership working.
• Support workforce initiatives, transformation programmes and organisational change projects.
• Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles across people management and workforce practices.
• Contribute to policy development and continuous improvement across the HR service.
• Keep up to date with employment legislation, best practice and developments affecting local government HR.

Skills

HR Leadership

Employee Relations

Employment Legislation

Stakeholder Management

Coaching & Leadership

Trade Unions

Communication Skills

Strategic Thinking

People Management

Change Management

Job description

Halton Borough Council is looking for an experienced and confident Lead HR Business Partner to provide leadership and direction to its HR Business Partnering team during an important period of change.

This is a key leadership role within the HR function, with responsibility for supporting the HRBP team through current challenges, strengthening ways of working and ensuring managers across the Council continue to receive high-quality, pragmatic HR support.

Reporting to the Head of HR Operations, you will lead, coach and support the HR Business Partnering team, whilst also operating as a senior HR Business Partner to an area of the Council.

This is an opportunity for an experienced HR leader who is comfortable operating at both a strategic and hands‑on level, can build trust quickly and is confident in helping teams and managers navigate change, improvement and complex employee relations matters.

As Lead HR Business Partner, you will provide day-to-day leadership to the HRBP team, setting direction, supporting performance and creating a collaborative environment where colleagues can share best practice and work effectively together.

You will work closely with the Head of HR Operations and wider HR Leadership Team to help shape people strategies, improve service delivery and ensure the HRBP model continues to develop in line with the Council's priorities.

A key part of the role will be steering the team through change and current challenges, providing stability, clear leadership and practical solutions whilst maintaining a strong focus on service delivery.

Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will act as a senior HR adviser and trusted partner to managers and senior leaders, providing expert advice across employee relations, workforce planning, organisational change and people management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coach and develop the HR Business Partner team, including objective setting, performance management, mentoring and capability development.
• Provide clear direction and support to the team during a period of change and organisational challenge.
• Build strong team relationships, encouraging collaboration, consistency and the sharing of best practice.
• Work closely with the Head of HR Operations and HR Leadership Team to shape and deliver people strategies, initiatives and service improvements.
• Act as a strategic and operational HR Business Partner to a designated area of the Council, developing strong relationships with senior managers and service leaders.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on complex employee relations matters, including discipline, grievance, absence, performance, capability and organisational change.
• Support HRBPs and HR Advisors with complex or sensitive cases, ensuring appropriate risk management, escalation and resolution.
• Coach and empower managers to improve their people management capability and confidently manage change.
• Ensure employment legislation, ACAS guidance, Council policies and terms and conditions are appropriately interpreted and applied.
• Maintain an overview of employee relations across relevant service areas and identify opportunities to improve employee relations and workforce effectiveness.
• Support the continued development and embedding of the Council's Business Partnering model and identify opportunities to improve HR service delivery.
• Work collaboratively across the wider HR function, including HR Operations, Resourcing, Organisational Development, Pay and Reward and other specialist areas.
• Develop strong and constructive relationships with Trade Unions and contribute to effective partnership working.
• Support workforce initiatives, transformation programmes and organisational change projects.
• Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles across people management and workforce practices.
• Contribute to policy development and continuous improvement across the HR service.
• Keep up to date with employment legislation, best practice and developments affecting local government HR.

About You

We are looking for an experienced HR professional who has previously operated at HR Business Partner, Senior HRBP, HR Manager or HR Service Manager level, ideally within a complex and/or public sector environment.

You will need to be a confident people leader who can quickly understand a team, identify priorities and provide clear direction. You will be comfortable dealing with ambiguity and challenges, whilst maintaining a calm, supportive and solutions‑focused approach.

You will have:

• Significant experience of leading or managing an HR Business Partnering team.
• Strong knowledge of employee relations and employment legislation.
• Proven experience advising and influencing senior managers.
• Experience of managing complex employee relations cases and organisational change.
• Strong coaching and people leadership skills.
• The ability to build credibility and positive relationships quickly.
• Experience of working collaboratively with Trade Unions.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A pragmatic and solutions‑focused approach to HR.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with a willingness to get hands‑on when required.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively in a challenging environment.

This role would suit an experienced HR leader who enjoys bringing structure, stability and positive leadership to teams during periods of change, and who can quickly build relationships and make an impact.

Why Join Us?

This is a great opportunity to join Halton Borough Council at an important time for its HR service. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the HRBP team, support improvements in the way the service operates and work closely with senior leaders across the Council.

The role offers hybrid working, with a 37-hour working week, Monday to Friday, at £25.26 per hour.

The initial contract is expected to be 4-6 months, with the potential for extension and potentially a permanent opportunity for the right person.

If you are an experienced HR leader looking for a role where you can make a real impact and help steer a team through change, we would love to hear from you.