Strategic HR & OD Partner for Change Leadership

At UCL, we believe that people and culture are central to delivering world-leading education, research and innovation. As London’s Global University, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where our staff and students can thrive, and where collaboration, curiosity and ambition shape everything we do.

Human Resources at UCL is a dynamic, service-driven function supporting a diverse academic and professional services community across the institution. We work in partnership with faculties and divisions to deliver people solutions that enable organisational success, strengthen leadership capability and support meaningful, sustainable change.

This role sits within a major strategic transformation programme focused on improving and aligning professional services across UCL. It is an exciting opportunity to influence institution-wide change, shape organisational development activity and help create a positive experience for colleagues across the university.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic HR/Organisational Development professional to join us as a Senior HR/OD Business Partner. Working at the centre of a significant transformation programme, you will play a key role in supporting organisational change, strengthening leadership capability and ensuring a consistent, high-quality people approach across multiple faculties and stakeholder groups.

You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, partnering with HR colleagues, programme teams and organisational development specialists to deliver complex people and change initiatives. Alongside providing expert guidance on organisational design, workforce change and engagement, you will lead the development of learning and capability interventions that support leaders and managers through transformation.

This is a highly collaborative role requiring both strategic oversight and hands-on delivery. You will work closely with stakeholders across UCL to embed effective ways of working, support matrix collaboration and ensure colleagues have the skills, confidence and behaviours needed to succeed in a changing environment.

The role offers the opportunity to contribute to a high-profile institutional programme while supporting leadership, management, and organisational development practice specifically within the context of this institutional transformation programme at one of the world’s leading universities.

Please note, this is a 12-month fixed term contract offered on a hybrid working basis with a minimum of 2 days onsite (subject to change) at our London Kings Cross office.

You will be an experienced HR Business Partner or Organisational Development professional with a strong track record of leading complex people and change initiatives within large, multifaceted organisations. You will bring expertise in organisational change, stakeholder engagement and leadership development, alongside the credibility and confidence to influence at senior level.

Specifically, you will have experience in large organisational change programmes covering restructures and redundancies. You will be skilled at building trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and able to navigate ambiguity with sound judgement, resilience and a collaborative approach.

You will also have experience of designing or delivering learning and development interventions that drive practical behavioural change and strengthen leadership capability. We are looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with delivery focus — someone who can bring people together, challenge constructively and help create sustainable, inclusive change.

A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and an ability to work effectively across matrix environments, will be essential to success in this role.

As well as exciting opportunities, UCL offers a range of great benefits:

• 41 days’ holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 6 closure days)
• Option to purchase 5 additional days’ annual leave
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, and immigration loan
• Relocation support for eligible posts
• On-site nursery and gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Staff Support Service (employee assistance programme)

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and – for Grade 9 and 10 roles – women.