Head of HR in London

Salary: Dir 52.5% £72,526 - £79,561

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds

We’re recruiting for a number of roles across our HR service at Leeds City Council, offering opportunities for HR practitioners at different stages of their careers to make a real difference to our organisation and workforce. Whether you’re an experienced HR leader or looking to take the next step in your career, we have a range of opportunities to explore.

Working across a large and diverse organisation, our HR team plays an important role in supporting our people, helping managers navigate workforce challenges and creating an environment where employees can thrive. The HR service is made up of around 110 colleagues who work together to support over 14,000 council employees and 11,500 colleagues working across our schools. Our Directorate Support team works together with our specialist HR teams across the organisation, providing employment advice, strategic direction and support on everything from recruitment and employee relations to wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion and organisational development. We play a vital role in developing our people, strengthening our organisation and ensuring we have the workforce needed to deliver high-quality services. Everything we do is underpinned by our People and Culture Framework.

Joining us is an opportunity to contribute to work that has a real impact on our employees, our services and the people of Leeds. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. If this is you, we’d love to hear from you.

We are hiring 2 Heads of HR. One will lead our Directorate Support team, focussing on employment policies, casework and management support. The other will be a general HR leadership role, but we are particularly interested in those with strong employment policy, pay, reward and industrial relations experience.

About you

You will be a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing expert guidance on complex people matters including employee relations, organisational change, pay & reward, workforce transformation and employment risk. Working closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including trade unions, you will foster constructive relations, enabling the Council to deliver significant change programmes whilst maintaining positive workforce engagement and employee trust.

As a Head of HR, you will bring to the role:

• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of strategic priorities at multiple levels ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.
• Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective and innovative workforce solutions.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information.
• Ability to develop, implement, promote and evaluate strategies and policies using data.
• Ability to lead a team of skilled HR practitioners that promote effective business partnering, high quality services and values-driven interventions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles please contact Gemma Taskas. Call 0113 3789353 or email gemma.taskas@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose

To assist the Assistant Chief Executive (People, Digital and Communications) in planning, organising, managing and developing the provision of high quality, effective and innovative Human Resource services, specifically leading the Directorate Support / Employee Relations team.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Assistant Chief Executive (People, Digital and Communications) in planning, organising, managing and developing the provision of high quality, effective and consistent services, providing strategic leadership and management that adds value and supports the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives in line with the Leeds Ambitions and set out in the Council Plan and People and Culture Strategy.
• Deliver programmes of strategic significance to the Council to deliver services in line with Council priorities.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of the service plan and continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate management teams.
• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.
• Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective and innovative workforce solutions.
• Ability to contribute, as a member of the HR Leadership Team, to the achievement of the People and Culture Strategy and directly contribute to the delivery of our vision of creating a great place to work.
• Leadership of a team of skilled HR practitioners that promote business partnering, service quality and values-driven interventions.
• Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count’.
• In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations.
• Manage resources and a substantial budget in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic national, local and political context.

You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications

Fellow or Chartered Membership of the CIPD, any other relevant post graduate qualification or significant applied experience within an HR setting is essential.

Working Context

Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to demonstrate strong leadership and management skills to develop a high performance culture across the HR and related services.
• Able to contribute to and influence the strategic direction of the service area working with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Able to develop, implement and promote and evaluate the strategies and policies and contribute to overarching strategies for the organisation and its partners.
• Demonstrate ability to take responsibility and be accountable for developing and implementing appropriate, proportionate and effective solutions to complex service delivery problems.
• Able to lead and manage a number of complex and potentially conflicting strategic and operational issues/priorities and be able to develop and implement innovative solutions, seeking appropriate guidance when required, to deliver required service outcomes.
• Manage resources and budget in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic national, local and political context.
• You will use visible, effective and supportive leadership and management skills that engages, develops and encourages talent, supports adaptable ways of working and creates strong, more flexible teams.
• Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes.
• Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
• Substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the area of service delivery.
• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level.
• Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations.
• Evidence of significant experience and commitment in relation to the engagement of relevant citizens, customers and stakeholders in decision making processes.
• Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city.
• Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

Basis: Full Time