At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with leaders to shape people strategy and drive organisational change.
- Company: Join the innovative team at Edinburgh Napier University.
- Benefits: 41 days annual leave, generous pension, and various learning opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic higher education environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR partnering and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 46049 - 58225 £ per year.
Location: Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh
Grade: Grade 6
Reports to: Head of People Partnering
Are you a strategic HR professional who thrives in complex environments and enjoys partnering with senior leaders to shape people strategy and organisational change? We are looking for a People Partner to join our team at Edinburgh Napier University and play a key role in delivering impactful, insight-led people solutions across Schools and Professional Services.
About the Role
As a People Partner, you'll work closely with Deans, Directors and senior leaders, acting as a trusted adviser and critical friend. You'll bring strong people insight to support workforce planning, organisational design and complex decision-making, helping leaders navigate change and deliver their strategic priorities. Operating in a diverse and evolving Higher Education environment, you'll balance strategic input with hands-on delivery, managing multiple priorities while building strong, credible relationships across the University.
What You'll Do
- Partner with senior leaders to deliver strategic people priorities across your areas
- Act as a trusted adviser, providing expert guidance on complex people challenges and organisational change
- Lead workforce planning, organisational design and people impact assessments
- Use data and insight to identify trends, risks and opportunities and drive informed decision-making
- Support and influence leadership teams to build high-performing, engaged and effective teams
- Lead and support change initiatives, ensuring the human side of change is effectively managed
- Work collaboratively across the People Team to deliver integrated people solutions
- Drive engagement, culture and capability initiatives aligned to University priorities
- Ensure effective governance and alignment with policy, legislation and best practice
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience in an HR Partnering or HR Consultancy role within a complex organisation
- Strong experience of organisational development and leading change initiatives
- Ability to influence and build credibility with senior stakeholders across diverse environments
- Experience managing multiple priorities and delivering across both strategic and operational activity
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into meaningful insights and action
- Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- A passion for creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
Why Join Us?
At Edinburgh Napier University, we're committed to innovation, collaboration and excellence. You'll be part of a forward-thinking People Team, working in partnership with leaders across the University to shape culture, strengthen capability and deliver meaningful organisational impact. If you're ready to make a difference in a challenging and rewarding role, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Excellent Benefits Package
At ENU, we offer a great working environment where we support ambition, recognise achievement, and offer other excellent benefits including:
- Minimum of 41 days annual leave (including 10 fixed holidays)
- A generous pension scheme (employer contribution of 17.6%)
- 35 hour work week
- Various learning and development opportunities
- Access to our benefits platform Vivup which includes huge range of discounts across the UK's major retailers, health care discounts and Cycle to Work
- Discounted access to onsite and local gym facilities
Salary: £46,049 - £58,225 per annum (Grade 6)
Additional information: Applications encouraged before 15th of June. Interviews: Week of 15th of June at Sighthill campus. On this occasion, the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship or visa support for this role. International applicants will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
People Partner, Full time, Permanent in Livingston employer: Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for strategic HR professionals. With a commitment to employee growth, the university offers extensive learning opportunities, a generous benefits package including 41 days of annual leave and a robust pension scheme, and a supportive environment where your contributions can lead to meaningful organisational change. Join us at our Sighthill Campus in Edinburgh, where you can thrive in a dynamic higher education setting while making a significant impact on our community.
Contact Details:
Edinburgh Napier University Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People Partner, Full time, Permanent in Livingston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Edinburgh Napier University on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. This insider info can give us a leg up!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how your past experiences align with the role of People Partner. We should be ready to share specific examples that showcase our strategic HR skills and ability to influence senior leaders.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off our analytical side! Be prepared to discuss how we've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This is key for the People Partner position, so let’s make sure we highlight our ability to turn insights into action.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, it shows we’re genuinely interested in being part of the Edinburgh Napier University team.
We think you need these skills to ace People Partner, Full time, Permanent in Livingston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the People Partner role. Highlight your experience in HR partnering and organisational change, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Insights:Use data and examples to demonstrate how you've influenced decision-making in previous roles. We love seeing how you've turned insights into action, so don't hold back on sharing those success stories!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We're looking for someone who can build strong relationships, so showing us your communication style and approach to collaboration is key.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application gets to the right people quickly and efficiently, making it easier for us to review your credentials.
How to prepare for a job interview at Edinburgh Napier University
✨Know Your People Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the university's people strategy and recent initiatives. Understand how they align with the role of a People Partner. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience can contribute to their goals.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've used data to drive decision-making. Highlight how you identified trends or risks in previous roles and how that informed your strategic recommendations. This will demonstrate your ability to translate insights into action.
✨Build Credibility with Examples
Think of instances where you've successfully influenced senior stakeholders. Share stories that showcase your relationship-building skills and how you navigated complex challenges. This will illustrate your capability as a trusted adviser in a diverse environment.
✨Emphasise Change Management Experience
Since the role involves leading change initiatives, prepare to discuss your experience in managing organisational change. Talk about how you ensured the human side of change was effectively managed, which is crucial for fostering a positive workplace culture.
