At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver pay and reward strategies to support our diverse workforce.
- Company: Join Barnardo's, a leading charity committed to inclusion and growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and a range of employee perks.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values diversity and supports personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on colleague recognition and career development.
- Qualifications: Experience in pay and reward, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative spirit.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid working, Barnardo's hub/office or home address.
At Barnardo's, we're committed to creating a place where everyone can grow, thrive and belong. Please read the following job description thoroughly to ensure you are the right fit for this role before applying.
We're looking for an experienced Strategic People Business Partner (Pay and Reward) to help shape and deliver our pay and reward approach, ensuring it reflects our values, supports our people ambitions and enables colleagues to be their best. This is an exciting opportunity for a reward specialist who enjoys combining strategy, insight and practical delivery to create fair, progressive and evidence-based reward solutions across a large and diverse workforce.
What you'll be doing
- Support the development and delivery of Barnardo's pay philosophy and reward strategy.
- Review and improve job families, pay structures, to improve transparency and consistency and align with workforce and organisational design developments.
- Conduct benchmarking and labour market analysis, translating data into practical recommendations.
- Develop recommendations for a more transparent job family framework that supports talent growth and future career opportunities.
- Explore how skills development, career progression and reward can work together to support colleague growth to better recognise contribution, capability growth and values-led behaviours by developing proposals for recognition and contribution-based reward approaches.
- Review and enhance our total reward offer, including benefits and recognition programmes, improving colleague understanding and engagement with reward, helping to strengthen attraction, retention and belonging.
- Provide expert advice on complex reward issues, pay decisions and governance matters.
- Deliver high-quality reward reporting, pay equity analysis and market insight to support strategic decision-making.
Why this role matters
Reward plays a key role in creating a culture where colleagues feel valued, recognised and able to be their best, enabling them to deliver the greatest possible impact for children and young people. You'll help ensure our reward approach:
- Supports career development and progression.
- Recognises contribution, capability and values-led behaviours.
- Strengthens fairness, inclusion and belonging.
- Creates meaningful recognition and reward experiences.
- Enables data-informed decisions about our workforce and future talent and early career pathways.
About you
We're looking for someone who brings:
- Significant experience in pay and reward, job evaluation and benchmarking.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn data into insights and recommendations.
- Experience designing or improving pay frameworks and reward approaches.
- Knowledge of pay governance, pay equity and reward best practice.
- Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and presenting recommendations.
- A collaborative style and a passion for creating fair and inclusive workplaces.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Pay & Reward Framework
We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.
The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.
Benefits Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these.
Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland). Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata.
The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme.
A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options.
Service related sick pay from day 1.
Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's.
Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution.
Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension.
Cycle2work scheme.
Interest free season ticket loans.
Discounts and cashback from high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal.
20% discount at Barnardo's stores.
Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support.
Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer. *T&C's apply based on contract.
About Barnardo's
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
People Business Partner employer: Barnardos
Barnardo's is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact on children's lives. With a strong focus on professional development and a supportive, values-driven culture, employees are empowered to grow in their roles while working collaboratively with diverse teams. Located in a community-oriented environment, Barnardo's offers flexible working arrangements and prioritises inclusivity, making it a rewarding place for passionate Social Workers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People Business Partner
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Barnardos!
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Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Barnardos.
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Barnardos. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Barnardos and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Barnardos. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Barnardos's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnardos
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Barnardos.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Barnardos will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Barnardos and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
