HR Consultant - Employee Wellbeing in Oxford

Public Sector / Local Government Salary: Up to £52,000 + excellent pension scheme. Hybrid & flexible working options available.

Are you passionate about creating a healthier, happier workforce? Do you thrive in environments where you can shape strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and deliver meaningful organisational impact? We are partnering with a respected public sector organisation undergoing significant transformation to recruit an HR Consultant – Employee Wellbeing. This is a strategic, future‑focused role for an experienced wellbeing, occupational health or employee experience professional who can lead organisation‑wide wellbeing initiatives and help shape a modern, supportive, and people‑centred culture.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative HR & Culture Change team, providing expert consultancy across the organisation while contributing to an ambitious People & Culture Strategy.

The Opportunity

As HR Consultant (Employee Wellbeing), you will lead on the development, design and delivery of a comprehensive Wellbeing Strategy for a diverse, multi‑site workforce. This includes creating proactive, preventative wellbeing initiatives, managing external wellbeing and occupational health providers, and ensuring the organisation meets legislative and best‑practice standards—including new 2026 requirements related to reasonable adjustments and occupational health access.

You will play a critical role in ensuring employees feel supported, valued, and able to perform at their best, directly influencing workforce performance, attendance, and engagement. You will also join a wider team of HR Consultants working across centres of excellence (Talent, ED&I, L&D, Engagement &ms, Early Careers), with opportunities for cross‑specialist work and long‑term career development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and delivery of an organisation‑wide Employee Wellbeing Strategy that is innovative, evidence‑based and future‑focused.
• Design, commission or deliver wellbeing initiatives that support employees’ physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Manage external providers including Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Programmes, ensuring value for money, high‑quality delivery, and contract compliance.
• Ensure wellbeing activity aligns with legislative requirements, including new 2026 employment legislation around reasonable adjustments.
• Strengthen relationships with internal services such as Public Health, Health & Safety and Employee Relations to embed wellbeing into operational practice.
• Support managers and leaders in understanding their role in wellbeing, aligning initiatives with the organisation’s leadership and culture frameworks.
• Contribute to the THRIVE workstream of the People & Culture Strategy.

Broader HR Consultant Responsibilities

• Act as an expert reference point in your specialist area while contributing to wider People & Culture strategic priorities.
• Lead and manage organisational projects within your HR specialism.
• Provide expert guidance to managers and Strategic People Partners on wellbeing, employment matters, policy and people solutions.
• Use data, insight and technology (including digital tools and AI) to influence evidence‑based decision-making.
• Draft reports, develop policy, prepare presentations and influence key stakeholders.
• Support organisational transformation programmes through specialist HR input.
• Work in partnership with Trade Unions where required.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion, embedding inclusive practice across all wellbeing activities.

About You

• Significant experience delivering wellbeing, occupational health, employee experience or related people initiatives within a complex organisation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to influence, challenge and support senior leaders.
• Experience managing external providers and evaluating service effectiveness.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to create medium‑ and long‑term solutions across a diverse workforce.
• Strong understanding of people data, insight, and evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills across multiple channels, capable of reaching varied audiences.
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of employment legislation, wellbeing best practice and relevant standards.
• Experience leading projects or programmes within HR or Organisational Development.

Why Apply?

• A genuinely strategic wellbeing role with organisation‑wide influence.
• Opportunity to shape a new approach to wellbeing during a time of significant change.
• Excellent pension scheme & local government‑aligned benefits.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• Ability to develop across multiple People & Culture specialisms.
• Supportive environment that values continuous learning, innovation and inclusion.