Fixed Term Contract: 6 Months (Immediate Start)

Working Pattern: 0.6 FTE (Flexibility to work hours across 3, 4, or 5 days a week) 

The Role

Within our People Directorate, HR Managers roles are known as People Managers.

Are you a hands-on HR professional who thrives in a busy environment? We are looking for a People Manager to join us on a 6-month fixed-term basis to provide expert Employee Relations (ER) support.

Reporting to the Senior People Manager, you will be a trusted advisor delivering a comprehensive ER service to line managers and senior management. This is a role for a relationship-builder, someone who can partner with stakeholders quickly and navigate complex people management scenarios with ease.

What will I be doing?

• ER Expert Advice: Providing professional guidance on employment law, legislative obligations, and the interpretation of university terms and conditions.
• Case Management: Supporting managers through investigations for disciplinary and grievance cases, ensuring timely completion and expert advice on precedent and risk.
• Performance & Wellbeing: Advising on formal and informal performance management and proactively managing staff wellbeing, including complex sickness absence and Occupational Health referrals.
• Strategic Alignment: Supporting organisational change projects, such as restructuring and formal consultations.
• Stakeholder Partnership: Attending and contributing to management meetings, providing expert advice to support decision-making.

What skills do I need?

We are looking for a resilient, solution-focused professional who possesses:

• Qualifications: CIPD Level 7 (or CIPD Level 5 with an equivalent level of knowledge and relevant experience).
• ER Expertise: Proven experience of managing all areas of ER-related issues in a large and complex organisation.
• Stakeholder Management: The ability to engage and partner with stakeholders quickly and easily to build trust.
• Communication: A collaborative approach to coaching line managers and a "hands-on" management style.

Location & Flexibility

This role is based at our Headington Campus, which features a vibrant atmosphere and a modern office environment. We offer a hybrid working model requiring a minimum of one day per week on campus. We are highly flexible regarding how you work your 0.6 FTE, with the option to spread hours across 3, 4, or 5 days per week.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of fantastic benefits to support your work-life balance and wellbeing; here are just a few of the highlights:

• Generous Leave: Minimum of 25 days holiday (pro-rata), plus 8 Bank Holidays and additional university concessionary days.
• Pension: Competitive Local Government pension scheme with a 19.2% employer contribution rate.
• Perks: Access to a fantastic student discount scheme (TOTUM), employee assistance programmes, and discounted gym facilities.
• Community: Access to a wide variety of staff networks that instil a sense of community and offer space for support and friendship.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact the Deputy Director People Operations, Claire Cross, at c.cross@brookes.ac.uk.