Strategic HR Business Partner

The London Borough of Havering is looking to recruit a Strategic HR&OD Business Partner to work as a strategic business partner with assigned Directorate Management Teams to meet business objectives and priorities through proactive workforce planning, identifying business specific people challenges, and working with HR&OD colleagues to deliver high quality talent management, performance management and organisational development solutions.

If successful in your application for the role of Strategic HR&OD Business Partner, you will/will be:

• Act as a strategic partner to the business, providing HR&OD expertise to ensure the Directorate Management Team remains focused on key priorities while proactively identifying and addressing workforce-related challenges with accountability and innovative solutions.
• Engage collaboratively with Directorate Management teams and key stakeholders to enhance organisational and people capability, fostering creativity and implementing effective people strategies that drive sustainable outcomes.
• Leverage data, metrics, and evidence to shape informed decision-making, support change initiatives, and enhance workforce strategies across designated business areas with a strong emphasis on transparency and impact measurement.
• Serve as a vital HR&OD conduit between Corporate Directors, Directors, and HR&OD functional leads, ensuring streamlined communication and alignment of strategic workforce initiatives.
• Lead meaningful discussions with Corporate Directors and Directors on critical workforce matters—such as succession planning, resourcing strategies, operational capabilities, and workforce analytics—to deliver accountable solutions that strengthen organisational resilience.
• Provide expert HR guidance to Directorate Management teams on people practices, including complex casework and restructures, ensuring a balanced approach that upholds fairness, compliance, and organisational effectiveness.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability, driving innovation and transformation across HR&OD practices.
• Support the Directorate Management Team and stakeholders in embedding agility, fostering a proactive approach to change, and ensuring workforce strategies evolve to meet shifting organisational and business demands.
• Embody self-accountability and collaborative leadership, fostering a supportive environment for HR colleagues while proactively stepping beyond traditional role boundaries.
• Champion agility in responding to evolving organisational needs, ensuring HR&OD functions remain adaptable, solutions-driven, and aligned with broader business priorities.

As one of the greenest boroughs in London, resourcefulness is in our nature. We don’t wait to be told, we take the initiative. We face the future head-on, embracing new challenges with open minds and fresh ideas. There are lots of opportunities to progress here, and if you seize them we’ll support you all the way.

Choose Havering and see the difference you’ll make to the people that live, work and learn here. From caring for those who need it most, to ensuring our highways and streets are safe, providing a roof over the heads of our residents, providing excellent customer service or enhancing our digital services for staff and residents, there are so many ways you can make a positive influence here.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 1st June 2025; however, interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early. You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interviews are scheduled for 9th and 10th June 2025.

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.