Job description

Job title:HR Officer (Support)

Grade6

Reporting to:HR Manager (Operations)

Responsible for:2 direct reports

Main purpose of the job:

The post holder is responsible for the day to day delivery of effective, timely and proactive HR support to the wider University and will have a key role in helping to ensure that HR processes and procedures are simple, customer focussed and are clearly communicated both internally and externally.

The post holder will manage and develop their team to ensure they provide accuratefront line HR advice and operational support on all aspects of the employee life cycle to managers and employees across the University. The team is responsible for dealing with a range of HR queries, ensuring employees and managers know how to access key information, that contractual changes are made accurately and promptly, and ensuring the HR and Payroll database is up to date and accurate.

The role sits within one of three in HR Operations: HR Support, Recruitment and HR Systems and Information.

Main duties and responsibilities

  • To provide initial advice/signposting to managers and staff on a range of areas such as contractual issues, annual leave &all kinds of statutory/family friendly leave, probation, and sickness – ensuring that issues are promptly escalated/communicated to the employee relations team, where appropriate.
  • To be responsible for reviewing, updating and ensuring that all HR Support processes are documented.
  • Ensure that all transactions are entered effectively and accurately on the HR and Payroll database and corresponding supporting documentation has been issued (contractual changes, family friendly leave, flexible working requests etc.) on a timely basis and according to statutory requirements, where relevant.
  • To work proactively with the HR Managerto ensure that HR information and processes are effective, user friendly and help to ensure information is effectively and creatively communicated on the University’s intranet (Staff Central) as well as internally in HR.
  • To support the HR Manager with a range of projects to improve the overall efficiency of the department.
  • To be responsible for managing, developing, supporting and motivating their team
  • To work collaboratively with managers and HR colleagues to manage the University’s establishment data and ensure it is up to date and accurate
  • To be responsible for ensuring that regular management information is provided to managers and Heads of Department (sickness, fixed term, probation) and responding to/escalating issues to the employee relations team, as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for analysing data for the departments the role supports e.g. sickness absence, exit interviews, flexible working decisions amongst others and communicating to employee relations colleagues
  • To provide support to the University’s job evaluation panels.

Person specification

Requirements / Essential / Measured by A/I/E
Education and Qualifications /
  • Membership of the CIPD
  • A degree or equivalent experience

Knowledge and skills /
  • A broad understanding of employment law and motivation to keep up to date
  • The ability to deliver high quality support across the university
  • Possess an ability to challenge the status quo and look creatively at how things are done and could be done
  • Solution focussed
  • The ability to organise a busy workload and be systematic
  • Proficiency with the Microsoft suite of packages (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • The ability to motivate and develop team members
  • Able to provide constructive challenge, where appropriate.
  • The ability to produce process maps
  • Numeracy skills to be able to undertake basic calculations

Work experience /
  • Proven experience in a busy HR environment
  • Experience of advising managers and staff on a range of employment queries
  • Previous experience of staff supervision
  • Experience of using an HR and Payroll database

Communication skills /
  • The ability to write clearly, creatively and grammatically
  • Interpersonal skills to be able to liaise with staff members across the University

Other requirements /
  • The ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of the HR team

Desirable /
  • Previous experience of using Stonefish (online recruitment system)

Additional Information

  • Grade 6 – the salary range is £28,982 - £32,600 per annum (pro-rata). Appointments are usually made at the bottom of the scale.
  • This is a fixed term appointment for approximately 9 months to cover a period of maternity leave.
  • This is a full time role (37 hours/week), Monday to Friday.
  • The holiday entitlement for the position is 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays (pro rata).
  • More information about the university’s benefits can be found on our website.