Deputy Director of HR (Employee Relations) in Liverpool

The Deputy Director of HR (ER) is responsible for shaping and delivering a high‑performing, compliant, and employee‑focused ER function. The postholder will lead all aspects of employee relations, ensuring the College maintains best practice standards and adheres to employment legislation while fostering a fair, inclusive, and positive working environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Compliance: Provide strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of employee relations, ensuring the College adheres to employment legislation and best practice while fostering a fair, inclusive, and positive working environment. Act as the College’s lead advisor on complex and high‑risk ER matters, including industrial relations, employment law compliance, and organisational change. Develop, review, and implement HR policies and procedures to ensure they are legally compliant, in line with changing legislation, and aligned with the College’s values and strategic objectives. Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to employment law, industrial action, and tribunal claims, safeguarding the College’s reputation.
• Employee Relations Case Management: Oversee all ER casework across the College, including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, and capability management, ensuring timely, fair, and consistent resolution. Personally lead on the most sensitive and high‑profile cases, providing expert guidance and ensuring compliance with legal and procedural requirements. Coordinate reporting of all case management activity, ensuring accurate data on attendance, conduct, capability, and grievance cases.
• Union Engagement and Consultation: Build and maintain constructive relationships with recognised trade unions, leading on consultation and negotiation processes for organisational change and workforce matters. Provide high‑level advisory support to managers on industrial relations issues, ensuring effective communication and resolution strategies.
• Workforce Performance and Attendance Management: Drive a high performance culture across all business areas by advising managers on best practice and compliance in relation to performance, capability, and conduct; actively upskilling managers to strengthen management capacity. Lead attendance management strategies to achieve College absence targets, using data insights to identify trends and implement proactive solutions. Promote continuous improvement initiatives that enhance work‑life balance and make the College an employer of choice.
• Leadership and Team Management: Line‑manage the HR Business Partners and oversee the HR Advisers, ensuring consistent delivery of high‑quality HR services. Monitor ER team performance and effectiveness, making recommendations for structural or process improvements based on emerging trends and organisational needs.
• College‑Wide Leadership: Deputise for the Group HR Director as required, representing HR at executive and management meetings and contributing to strategic decision‑making. Actively participate in cross‑College committees and leadership forums, influencing organisational priorities and promoting HR as a strategic partner.
• Professional Practice and Values: Contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College Group ensuring its effective implementation in all aspects of College life. Take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development, Health & Safety, and meeting other regulatory compliances (e.g. GDPR, Safeguarding), thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be observed at all times. Support cross college activities as required in particular the key enrolment and invigilation periods. Carry out any other relevant and appropriate duties as determined by the needs of the service and as appropriate to the grade.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience in Human Resources.
• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex, unionised environment.
• Proven track record of managing high‑risk and complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, and sickness absence.
• Detailed understanding of employment law, including current and future developments, statutory requirements and HR best practice.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop HR teams to deliver high‑quality, consistent services.
• Ability to develop good working relationships and effective influencing with all levels of staff, management and trade unions.
• Experience of delivering transformation activity in a unionised environment.
• Experience in risk management relating to employment law, tribunals and industrial action.
• Experience of dealing with complex cases including preparation for and attendance at Employment Tribunals.
• Experience of successfully driving forward initiatives which improve the efficiency, effectiveness and organisation of HR to better support business needs.
• Strong leadership and team development skills, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Champion of equality, diversity and inclusion, embedding these principles in all HR practices.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to manage sensitive and high‑profile issues.
• Integrity and discretion, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to build trust and credibility at all levels.
• Experience in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures aligned with employment legislation and best practice.

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance: Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 wellbeing day.
• Pension Scheme: You’ll be part of the Aviva pension scheme, with contributions of up to 10%.
• Employee Benefits Platform: Access to a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work‑life balance, and everyday savings.
• Health and Wellbeing: Access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Medicash Scheme: Access to Medicash health plans – supporting you and your family with enhanced access to treatment, wellbeing services and expert care whenever you need it.
• Life Assurance: Life assurance to give you and your family added peace of mind — with a benefit of up to three times your annual salary payable in the event of death in service.
• Travel: Interest‑free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail.
• Flexible Working: Flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee’s work‑life balance.
• Professional Development: A mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge and accelerate your career.
• College Benefits: Access to excellent sports and fitness facilities free of charge, discounted hair and beauty treatments, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.