HR Business Partner in London

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 3 HR Business Partners:

• 1 permanent specialist role supporting the complex pay and reward agenda
• 1 permanent generalist HR role to support our recruitment, resourcing and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion teams.
• 1 two-year fixed term contract supporting our Improving Attendance Team.

We are keen for experience in management information and workforce analytics.

About you

As an HR Business Partner, you will bring to the role:

• Professional HR experience and a strong understanding of employment practice legislation and case law.
• Experience of providing high-quality employment advice and support on complex workforce issues.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate with a range of stakeholders including Trade Unions.
• The ability to work collaboratively and respond effectively to changing workforce and organisational priorities.
• The ability to develop solutions to issues and problems and contribute to the improvement of the service including processes and procedures.
• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of service level priorities ensuring people are kept at the forefront.

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 Jess Dolphin. Call 0113 37 89277 / 07712216314 or email Jess.dolphin@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: Support the Chief Officer HR and HR Leadership Team to deliver programmes of strategic significance to the Council in order to deliver our vision to be the Best Place to Work and our People & Culture Strategy priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for specific service areas with key relationships with Chief Officers
• Support key employee relations forums and service priorities.
• Responsible for responding to a range of operational and strategic employment issues
• Supervision and appraisal of staff in line with associated policies and procedures
• Support staff to feel motivated and engaged in the values, vision and direction of the service, promoting the values of the Council through appropriate behaviour and professionalism.
• Develop constructive working relationships with other services
• Work flexibly as part of a team
• Work within and interpret financial policies and procedures ensuring value for money
• Promote and instigate appropriate use of information technology, processes and systems, including planning and control in accordance with the requirements of GDPR
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of people including colleagues within the service and across the council, Trade Unions, internal/external partners, agencies, customers and the general public dealing with all contact in a professional manner.
• Develop solutions to issues and problems to ensure effective delivery of the service
• Contribute to the improvement of the service including processes and procedures
• Be aware of relevant legislation, guidance, policies and interpret and apply them consistently.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers
• Maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people including colleagues, internal/external partners, agencies, customers and the general public dealing with all contact in a professional manner.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

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

Essential requirements

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

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to prioritise own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
• Able to work in partnership with others to deliver work to set deadlines
• Able to accurately enter and retrieve data and information from digital and manual systems preparing and presenting reports and data to senior managers and a wide range of audiences
• Knowledge of key employment legislation including primary legislation, regulations and relevant case law.
• Knowledge of the broad organisational development agenda, particularly as regards to wellbeing, employee experience Equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrate an understanding of people culture and inclusion strategies and outcomes.
• Knowledge of managing change in the workplace.
• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of service level priorities ensuring people are kept at the forefront.
• Experience of 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 workforce solutions.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• 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 and Council Plan.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Basis: Full Time