HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner

People and Organisational Development (OD)

Location: South Wales

Sector: Higher Education
Salary: £48,000
Contract: FTC Full-time (37 hours per week), Fixed-term until end of July 2026
Reports to: Director of People and Organisational Development
Direct Reports: Senior HR Adviser

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and strategic People and OD Business Partner to join our client who is a large education provider in South Wales where you will play a pivotal role in supporting the University's Transformation Programme. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the institution by leading on complex organisational change in a large, dynamic environment.

Working closely with senior leaders, finance colleagues, and a central project team, you will guide and influence the people aspects of major structural and service redesigns. Your role will be instrumental in ensuring change is delivered in a way that is fair, legally sound, and supports both the strategic goals and the wellbeing of its staff.

The People & OD Business Partner will be responsible for:

• Act as the People and OD lead on the University's Transformation Programme, contributing to strategic planning and implementation of large-scale organisational change.
• Partner with senior leaders to redesign services and operating models in response to financial challenges and to support future sustainability.
• Ensure that the people impact of transformation is fully considered and managed effectively throughout all stages of change.
• Lead on employee relations during the change process, including coordination of collective consultation plans, timelines, and regular meetings with Trade Union representatives.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on HR matters related to restructuring, redundancy, and organisational design.
• Manage and deliver HR processes linked to transformation activities, including project planning, communications, and documentation.
• Represent HR on steering groups, boards, and project teams, contributing to automation initiatives and questioning decisions to ensure people-focused outcomes.
• Work closely with Finance and the central Transformation Project Team, ensuring alignment across work streams.

The successful People & OD BP will bring to the team:

Essential:

• CIPDmembership at Chartered Member or above
• Significant experience in leading organisational change and transformation within large, complex organisations (preferably higher education or public sector).
• Proven track record in managing restructures and redundancies end-to-end, including legal compliance and stakeholder management.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law, HR best practice, and employee relations, especially in unionised environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior stakeholders , influence decisions, and shape people strategies.
• Experience coordinating collective consultations and engaging directly with Trade Unions.
• Ability to write clear, practical guidance and communication materials for a variety of audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including experience managing multiple work streams to tight deadlines.
• Committed to staff wellbeing, equality, diversity, and inclusion principles.
• Experience of working in an autonomous HR role in a complex unionized environment

How you'll be rewarded

• Salary of £48,000

• Flexible and hybrid working
• 35 days annual leave
• Access to generous pension scheme
• Access to sports centre, catering outlets, learning resource centre and staff discounts

For further information about this opportunity, please contact Branwen Johns on and email a copy of your CV

Interviews are to be held the week commencing the 23rd of June 2025.