About this role
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 [email protected].