Brasenose College, Oxford

Human Resources Manager (Part Time)

Job details for recruitment, September 2011

The College

BrasenoseCollege is one of the older foundations in the University of Oxford. Originating in one of the medieval halls of the University – the gate of which was presumably adorned by the still-surviving ‘brazen nose’, or sanctuary door-knocker – it was founded by royal charter as the King’s Hall and College of Brasenose in 1509.

Five centuries later the College is still thriving. It has some 370 undergraduates and about 170 graduates, a fellowship of around 40 and a similar number of lecturers. There is a supportstaff team of about 110. It is thus one of the medium-sized Oxford colleges, with a very friendly atmosphere.

The College is a self-governing institution and a regulated charity. The ultimate authority for all decisions rests with the Principal and Fellows. The Governing Body is serviced by a structure of committees and officers, including the Bursar, Domestic Bursar and Senior Tutor who head the main departments in College and therefore manage, directly or indirectly, nearly all of the staff.

Job Purpose

The HR Manager is responsible for developing personnel policies and procedures in accordance with statutory requirements and best practice within a College and University environment, and will play a key role in advising College Officers, other Heads of Department and managers on how to implement such policies fairly and consistently across all College employees.

Organisational structure

The HR Manager will be managed by and report to the Bursar.

Advice and support on procedural and legal matters is provided by a firm of professional HR advisers (Peninsula) and administrative support for specific HR tasks is provided by the Bursar’s Secretary.

The college intends to set up a Personnel Committee this year, primarily to oversee the management of the Fellows, but also to provide some oversight and support to the Bursar and HR Manager on HR matters relating to staff, such as approval of policies and pay structure.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Personnel policies and support to managers

  1. To ensure that the College’s employment handbook and personnel policies and procedures are kept up to date and comply with all current legislation and support best practice within a College and University environment
  2. To advise College Officers, Heads of Department and other managers on how to implement such policies and procedures fairly and consistently across all College employees.
  3. To provide advice and support to individual managers on all personnel matters and liaise with the College’s professional advisors over matters such as absence, poor performance, grievances, harassment, disciplinary proceedings and dismissal.
  4. To ensure that recruitment and induction procedures are in place and followed consistently, and contracts are issued that comply with college policy and legislation.
  5. To support the development and training of all staff within agreed budgets.

Pay and reward

  1. To advise the Bursar on pay policy and implementation, including job grading and annual progression.
  2. To work with the College Accountant and Finance Bursary to ensure that all aspects of employees’ remuneration, including the calculation of pension contributions, sick pay and parental leave, are correctly calculated and applied in accordance with UK legislation and College policy.

Other HR matters

  1. To support the Bursar and other senior managers on the strategic plans of the College that involve personnel issues
  2. To support the Bursar and Domestic Bursar to ensure that communication and consultation with staff is relevant and effective.
  3. To ensure that reliable personnel records, including those relating to Equal Opportunities issues, are made and maintained, and to ensure that HR systems meet the needs of the College.
  4. To provide regular reports to the Bursar and other managers about employee matters such as absences.

Skills and experience required

The preferred candidate will have:

  1. at least five year’s experience in a senior HR advisor and/or HR managerial post (essential)
  2. Experience of writing and implementing HR policies and procedures (essential)
  3. excellent understanding of employment law, with experience of using this knowledge to advise managers (essential)
  4. excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to persuade people to do things that they are initially unwilling or uncomfortable doing (essential)
  5. ability to plan, prioritise and deliver own work to high standard in the face of many competing demands (essential)
  6. a recognised professional qualification in HR management (desirable)
  7. prior experience in a higher education institution (desirable)

Employment Conditions

Appointment: This is a permanent part time post, approximately 3 days/week, although some flexibility in work patterns is possible. There will be an initial probationary period of six months. During this period the post holder’s employment may be terminated by one week’s notice on either side. Thereafter the period of notice to terminate employment is one month. The appointment will be conditional on verification of the successful candidate’s availability for employment in this country, and subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.

Salary: The University Scale, Grade 8, currently £36,715 to £43,840 per annum pro rata. The starting point will depend on qualifications and experience. Advancement up the scale is on merit.

Pension: Employment with the College provides access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and it is for this scheme alone that it will pay the employer’s contribution. The successful candidate will be entered into this scheme unless they indicate on the Terms and Conditions that they do not wish to join.

Salary Exchange Scheme: The successfulcandidate will also be enrolled into the Salary Exchange Pension Contributions Scheme on or around three months after joining Brasenose staff. This scheme is financially advantageous both to the employee and the College as the employer.

Meals: Employees are entitled to take lunch free of charge in Hall each day they work when the kitchen is open.

Hours of Working: Part time,approximately 21 hours each week, but some flexibility is possible – to be agreed.

Annual Leave Entitlement: Annual leave entitlement is 30 days (5 days of which are taken over the Christmas break) plus statutory Bank Holidays, pro-rated for part time working (full time is 35 hours/week)

Other Information: No smoking is allowed in any part of the College, except the designated smoking area.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a confidential medical questionnaire which will be forwarded to our Occupational Health Department who will assess their fitness to perform this role.

Application Procedure

1.An application form can be downloaded from the College’s website at Any enquiries relating to these Job Details should be directed in the first instance to Moya Flynn, HR Manager, Brasenose College, Oxford OX1 4AJ. . Telephone: 01865 287474.

2.Prospective candidates should send a completed application form together with a thoughtfully worded cover letter (of no more than 500 words) demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the person specification. Completed applications should be sent to Moya Flynn, HR Manager, Brasenose College, Oxford OX1 4AJ to arrive no later than 12.00 noon on Monday 17th October 2011.

3.This post is subject to recruitment monitoring to ensure that the selection process is consistent with the law and the College’s Equal Opportunity Policy and Code of Practice; to this end, applicants are asked to complete a Recruitment Monitoring Form, which has been provided or is available on the website. This should be returned with your application, but should be placed in a separate sealed envelope addressed to the Bursar’s Secretary. The information supplied on the form will play NO part in the selection process, and will NOT be seen by any member of the selection panel.

4.Interviews will be held at Brasenose College on Thursday 20th October 2011.

Data Protection. All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

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