At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance HR systems and ensure top-notch service delivery.
- Company: Join The Open University, a leader in higher education committed to inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 33 days holiday, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in HR tech while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in team management and SAP SuccessFactors is essential.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with monthly office attendance required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the HR Systems Manager role at The Open University
Join to apply for the HR Systems Manager role at The Open University
This range is provided by The Open University. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Advert Reference Number: 916
Job Location: Milton Keynes
Department: People Systems
Closing Date: 3 August 2025
Weekly Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until31 July 2026
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and capable People Services Hub – Systems Manager (HR Systems Manager) to lead and develop the People Services Hub Systems team, whilst ensuring the delivery and continuous improvement of our core People systems – predominantly SAP SuccessFactors.
You will manage an operationally focused team of System Co-ordinators, allocating workloads, developing capability, and ensuring high-quality, reliable system support and service. You’ll also act as the key liaison between Digital Services and our technology partners, ensuring effective collaboration on system issues, projects, and upgrades.
This is a critical role in delivering both the day-to-day operational delivery alongside annual system activities such as the SuccessFactors bi-annual upgrades and pay review.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, manage and develop a team of People Services Hub Systems Co-ordinators to ensure excellent service delivery, engagement and capability.
- Build confidence and capability within the team, supporting learning and upskilling in People Services systems, digital processes, governance and best practice.
- Oversee workload allocation, performance management, and resource planning to meet SLAs, KPIs and service quality targets.
- Act as a point of escalation for complex queries and technical issues, using sound judgement to apply policy and system knowledge.
- Promote a customer and people centric approach across all system services and team activity.
- Collaborate with Digital Services and our external technology partner to manage and resolve system issues and ensure timely delivery of fixes, upgrades, and enhancements.
- Lead on cyclical and business-critical activities such as bi-annual SuccessFactors upgrades, annual pay reviews etc.
- Drive improvements in system use, data accuracy, and user experience through collaboration, system updates, and training.
- Ensure system changes are delivered with appropriate governance, documentation, and stakeholder engagement.
Skills and Experience
- Experience managing a team, including allocating work and supporting development in a technical or systems environment.
- Strong working knowledge and hands-on experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.
- Strong understanding of core HR processes and how they are supported by technology.
- Proven ability to lead annual business-critical activities such as system upgrades, pay updates etc.
- Strong relationship-building skills, with experience working across People Services, Digital Services, and external vendors.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organisational skills.
- Able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
- Knowledge of SuccessFactors Recruitment and Onboarding modules.
- Experience working with external tech partners or managed service providers.
Flexible working: We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Work location: It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once per month.
What you get in return:We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.
We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus 8 Bank Holidays and 3 extra Christmas closure days.
How to apply:
If you are interested in applying for this position, please click the \’Apply\’ link above where you will be directed to our Careers webpage.
We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
Seniority level
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Seniority level
Associate
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
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Job function
Human Resources and Information Technology
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Industries
Higher Education
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HR Systems Manager employer: The Open University
Contact Detail:
The Open University Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Systems Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with SAP SuccessFactors, especially the Employee Central module. Since this role heavily relies on this system, having a solid understanding will help you stand out during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in managing teams and leading projects. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully allocated workloads and developed team capabilities in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your problem-solving skills and how you've handled complex queries or technical issues in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to act as a point of escalation effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your relationship-building skills by preparing examples of how you've collaborated with different departments or external partners. This is crucial for ensuring effective communication and project success.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Systems Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in managing teams and working with SAP SuccessFactors. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in HR processes and system management.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly outlines your motivation for applying to The Open University. Mention how your background aligns with the key responsibilities of the HR Systems Manager role and express your enthusiasm for contributing to their People Services Hub.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise your problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and experience with external tech partners. These are crucial for the role and should be evident in your written materials.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which is essential for this managerial position.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Open University
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an HR Systems Manager, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in managing teams, allocating workloads, and developing capabilities. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led a team in a technical environment.
✨Demonstrate Your SAP SuccessFactors Knowledge
Since the role heavily involves SAP SuccessFactors, ensure you can speak confidently about your hands-on experience with the platform. Discuss any specific modules you've worked with, particularly Employee Central, and how you've contributed to system upgrades or improvements.
✨Highlight Problem-Solving Abilities
The role requires excellent problem-solving skills. Prepare to share instances where you've resolved complex queries or technical issues, especially those that required collaboration with external partners or internal teams. This will show your ability to handle challenges effectively.
✨Emphasise Relationship-Building Skills
Strong relationship-building skills are crucial for this position. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with various stakeholders, including People Services, Digital Services, and external vendors. Highlight any successful projects that resulted from these collaborations.