HR Business Partner in Downpatrick

The closing date for this position is the 11th May 2026.

Downshire Civic Centre, Downpatrick

Temporary (Approx 30 weeks)

£21.24 per hour

36 hours per week

Main Purpose

To provide a confidential, effective employee relations and business partner resource to assigned department(s)/directorate(s) and location(s) across a range of people management and employee relations issues, including recruitment, discipline and grievance; attendance management; dignity at work and capability. To contribute as an integral member of the HR department to the provision of a modern, professional high quality and responsive HR service to support the corporate and business plans of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• To provide proactive specialist advice, knowledge and support to managers within an assigned directorate, geographical or other area in relation to the effective application of HR policies, procedures, terms and conditions across a range of national agreements, employment law and HR best practice.
• To provide generalist HR advice to managers on the interpretation and application of HR policies and procedures and support the implementation of appropriate procedures and processes, including grievance, discipline, attendance management, dignity at work and capability.
• To ensure co-ordination and consistency of advice between all HR business partners through regular liaison and exchange of ideas and best practice.
• To ensure effective working relationships with key stakeholders such as directors, managers and representative bodies.
• To promote equality and diversity within the council and particularly, in the posts assigned area(s) by adhering to the councils equal opportunity policies and procedures and by ensuring that allocated targets to reduce inequalities and promote good relations are achieved.
• To develop and implement HR solutions through early intervention and prevention drawing on the benefits of engagement, communication, mediation and other solutions to reach the best outcome; ensuring compliance and the risk to the council is managed and mitigated.
• To act as counter signatory for the completion of criminal checks by applying for and receiving disclosure certificates through AccessNI, ensuring that access to Disclosure and the information they contain is managed in accordance with AccessNI guidelines.
• To ensure the central co-ordination and management of all employee relations cases both internal and external to the organisation, including confidential recording and archiving and the retention of full case notes.
• To participate in consultation and negotiation through the local joint consultative mechanisms with management and the trade unions on the resolution of employee relations issues; HR policies, procedures, and guidelines as required.
• To provide regular or ad hoc HR reports for senior management, committees and council as required.
• To provide cover on a rotational basis for the HR Manager, assuming certain responsibilities in their absence to ensure continuity of service to Departments and Directorates.
• To assist the Learning & Development Manager in the development and delivery of co-ordinated HR learning and development interventions to line management, on delegated core people management functions including discipline and grievance, harassment and bullying and attendance management.
• To advise and support individual managers in conjunction with Occupational Health to reduce sickness absence and put in place support mechanisms to expedite the timely return of staff to work, supporting attendance management case conferences as required.
• To monitor and report on the attendance management process for the designated area(s) and proactively support managers in dealing with long-term and short-term absence issues appropriately.
• To prepare responses to Freedom of Information and Data Protection requests, Ministerial, Parliamentary or NI Assembly questions; liaising with internal and external stakeholders as required.
• To ensure the timely and effective production of information from the Departments integrated management information systems as required.
• To manage case file notes and associated materials with the appropriate discretion and confidentiality at all times and in accordance with data protection requirements.
• To assist the HR Manager with employee resourcing activity as and when required; taking the lead in organising and chairing selection panels, identifying selection methods and advising on current employment legislation and codes of practice.
• To support managers in undertaking investigations and chairing hearings in HR matters as appropriate (e.g. discipline, grievance & harassment) and provide written records of proceedings, to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation; as and when required.
• To ensure the accurate and timely preparation of responses and discovery for Fair Employment and Industrial Tribunal proceedings, including preparing documentation, assisting legal advisers and represent the Council at Employment Tribunals and Court proceedings as required.

Essential Criteria:

• Actively undertaking or have achieved Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
• Chartered Membership of the CIPD.
• A minimum of 12 months recent experience as a HR practitioner in a generalist role including case managing individual employee relations issues to include 2 of the following: absence management, discipline, grievance, capability, performance management.
• Experience of managing recruitment and selection processes end to end.
• Demonstrable experience of building strong working relationships with employees and/or their representatives.
• Demonstrable experience of interpreting legislation, codes of practices, policy and best practice and providing expert advice and guidance to management, employees and HR team members.
• Working knowledge of current employment legislation with the ability to apply it practically to workplace situations.
• Computer literacy in a range of systems and software, including Microsoft Word and Excel and e-mail systems.
• Flexible approach as the successful candidate will be required to work across a range of HR activities which will involve attendance at Council locations across the district; other than where the post is based.
• Hold a full valid driving licence and have access to transport to meet the requirements of the post; or, have access to a mode of transport that will enable the post holder to fulfil the role in full.
• Access NI check.

Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd is an equal opportunities employer and a Corporate Member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd adheres to all current employment legislation.

We reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than the specified date, should we receive sufficient applications. If interested, please send your CV as early as possible. Please note only those candidates shortlisted may be contacted. Applicants must be authorised to work in the UK and Ireland. We are unable to sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Successful candidates may need to apply for an Access NI Certificate with Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd regardless if you already have a valid certificate. It will be a cost of between £16 - £32 depending on clearance level.