Strategic People Partner

Birmingham City University; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Birmingham City University is seeking a Strategic People Partner to join the People Partnering Team. You will support the delivery of high-quality services across the University, coaching senior managers and shaping a culture of continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Head of People Partnering, you will use HR data to inform decisions, influence senior stakeholders, and drive people strategies in a hybrid working environment across Schools and Departments.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) and Chartered MCIPD status (or working towards Chartered membership).
• Significant experience as an HR/People Business Partner advising senior leaders.
• Experience leading complex employee relations casework and applying employment law pragmatically.
• Experience developing people strategies, workforce plans, policies or change initiatives.
• Strong influencing, coaching and stakeholder management to support decision-making.
• Experience leading HR teams or specialist areas of HR practice.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to provide strategic People & Culture advice and workforce planning.
• Lead the development and implementation of People & Culture policies and projects.
• Build relationships with Schools, Departments, and staff representatives for effective solutions.
• Coach, influence, and develop managers to enhance capability in leading people.
• Drive continuous improvement using HR data, KPIs, and workforce insights.
• Promote values by supporting fair, inclusive People & Culture practices.

Skills

Strategic HR partner

Stakeholder management

Coaching & influencing

People analytics

Change management

Communication skills

Education

Degree-level qualification

Chartered MCIPD status (or in progress)

Tools

HR systems

Workforce data analysis

Policies & project governance

Job description

Department People and Culture Location Joseph Priestley Building Salary £52,462 to £60,842 per annum In addition to the advertised salary, this role attracts a non-contractual market supplement of £5,247 per annum. Post Type Full Time Release Date 01 September 2026 Closing Date 23.59 hours BST on Tuesday 15 September 2026 Interview Date Tuesday 29 September 2026 Reference H126007

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking - those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Strategic People Partner to join the People Partnering Team, supporting the delivery of high-quality services across the University.

Reporting to the Head of People Partnering, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and supporting a culture of continuous improvement across the University. Working as an integral member of the Senior People Partnering Team, you will proactively identify, plan, and meet workforce needs through a coaching and facilitative approach, directly contributing to the delivery of the University’s strategic objectives.

You will be an experienced Strategic People Partner with a genuine passion for people, service excellence, and transformational change. With a strong grasp of the full range of people management practices, you will bring a holistic understanding of the business partnering function and the processes and policies that underpin effective and strategic people engagement.

You Will Have

• Proven experience advising and consulting with senior leaders.
• Excellent people management and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence and communication skills to influence, challenge, and support senior stakeholders.
• A creative mindset, seeing opportunities in every challenge.
• A collaborative, open and honest approach that builds trust.
• The courage to offer high challenge and high support, always aligned with the University’s values and mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to provide strategic People & Culture advice, supporting organisational priorities, workforce planning, and change initiatives.
• Lead the development and implementation of People & Culture policies, strategies, and projects, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and best practice.
• Build strong relationships with Schools, Departments, and staff representatives to deliver effective people solutions and enhance stakeholder engagement.
• Coach, influence, and develop managers to build confidence and capability in leading and managing people.
• Drive continuous improvement by using HR data, KPIs, and workforce insights to inform decision‑making and enhance service delivery.
• Promote the University’s values by supporting fair, inclusive, and evidence‑based People & Culture practices that reflect the University’s legal and regulatory responsibilities.

Essential Requirements

• Degree‑level qualification (or equivalent) and Chartered MCIPD status (or working towards Chartered membership).
• Significant experience as an HR/People Business Partner, providing strategic advice and support to senior leaders.
• Demonstrable experience of leading complex employee relations casework and applying employment law in a pragmatic, solutions‑focused way.
• Experience of developing and implementing people strategies, workforce plans, HR policies, or organisational change initiatives.
• Strong influencing, coaching, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and support effective decision‑making.
• Experience of leading or developing HR teams, projects, or specialist areas of HR practice.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to deliver training and engage a wide range of audiences.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with experience of using HR systems and workforce data to inform decision‑making and drive continuous improvement.

Desirable Requirements

• Qualified Coach/Mentor.
• Substantial experience in designing workforce strategies.

Further Information

You’ll be part of a forward-thinking university that values innovation, diversity, and continuous development. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and this role offers the chance to make a real and lasting impact.

If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the People Partnering Team, we would love to hear from you.

Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University

Candidates who are successful at the initial longlisting stage will be invited to an informal conversation as part of the recruitment process, before progressing to formal shortlisting. These conversations are expected to take place during the week commencing 21 September 2026.

Formal interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on 29 September 2026.

Why work for us

• Work-life balance - Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent).
• Career development - Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career.
• Reward and wellbeing - Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits.
• Inclusive culture - A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs.

Visa Sponsorship

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant criteria. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.

Disability Confident Employer

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.

Use of AI in applications

At BCU, we welcome applications that clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role. AI tools may be used to support you in preparing your application, but the information you provide must be accurate, authentic and based on your own experience. Applications that rely too heavily on AI, appear generic or do not provide specific evidence against the role criteria are less likely to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. For more information, please refer to our candidate guidance.