Structure of\u00a0HE Human Resources<\/h3>\n
The majority of\u00a0higher education HR departments have a central team which\u00a0is\u00a0divided into sub-departments such as\u00a0Recruitment,\u00a0Pensions\u00a0and\u00a0Staff\u00a0Development.\u00a0\u00a0The central team is responsible\u00a0for the overall administration of HR services\u00a0and\u00a0provides advice to senior\u00a0managers and\u00a0the\u00a0Executive Board on\u00a0HR policy and strategy.<\/p>\n
Most universities\u00a0also\u00a0have local HR teams\u00a0or managers\u00a0within each faculty or school\u00a0who provide administrative support and\u00a0advise\u00a0on the staffing requirements of their\u00a0areas.<\/p>\n
![\"hr](\"https:\/\/s32855.p1184.sites.pressdns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr-structure-2.png\")
<\/p>\n
Human Resources is usually led by a Director of HR,\u00a0who sits on the university\u2019s\u00a0Executive\u00a0Board\u00a0and has overall responsibility for HR services. The Director also\u00a0provides\u00a0advice\u00a0and\u00a0develops\u00a0projects which enhance\u00a0the university\u2019s reputation.\u00a0A senior leadership team works under the Director, each responsible for\u00a0an area of HR services and management.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s it like to work in\u00a0higher education\u00a0HR?<\/h3>\n
From cleaners to professors, universities employ thousands of staff with a range individual needs, all of whom\u00a0require careful handling.\u00a0A\u00a0day in\u00a0the life of an HR specialist would\u00a0involve\u00a0communicating with\u00a0staff and colleagues\u00a0about a variety of issues at all levels of the\u00a0organisation,\u00a0as well as\u00a0carrying out complex administrative tasks.<\/p>\n
HR is a rewarding, people-facing career which demands specialists to have excellent communication and problem-solving skills as well as the ability to connect with staff from all backgrounds.\u202f\u202fUniversities\u00a0recognise\u00a0that effective HR\u00a0is vital to\u00a0the\u00a0success of the organisation\u00a0and\u00a0HR teams are well-rewarded\u00a0within this essential\u00a0and\u00a0diverse\u00a0area of\u00a0higher education\u00a0Professional\u00a0Services.<\/p>\n
Below we\u00a0take a closer look\u00a0at three typical HE HR roles\u00a0and what qualifications,\u00a0knowledge\u00a0and skills\u00a0are required\u00a0to work\u00a0in a university HR department.<\/p>\n
Higher Education Human Resources (HR)<\/h3>\nJob Profiles<\/h3>\n
Higher education offers aspiring HR and recruitment professionals a wide range of roles across related departments. Entry-level roles such as HR, Recruitment or Payroll Assistant can progress to mid-level and senior positions such as HR Officer or Manager.<\/p>\n
As with all higher education Professional Services and support positions, you can expect excellent opportunities to gain\u00a0specialist\u00a0qualifications\u00a0and training\u00a0as well as attractive salaries, benefits and flexible working conditions.<\/p>\n
Here\u00a0are some of the\u00a0HR\u00a0roles you might come across during your job search:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Head\/Director of Human Resources<\/li>\n
- HR Manager<\/li>\n
- HR Officer\/Advisor\/Consultant<\/li>\n
- HR Business Manager<\/li>\n
- Careers Consultant<\/li>\n
- Talent and\u00a0Recruitment lead<\/li>\n
- Training and Education support officer<\/li>\n
- Staff Development Officer<\/li>\n
- Health and Safety Officer<\/li>\n
- Payroll and Pensions Officer<\/li>\n
- HR Assistant\/Administrator<\/li>\n
- Recruitment Assistant<\/li>\n
- Data Input Clerk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The qualifications, experience and skills you will need for the above roles depend on what level of\u00a0HR\u00a0position you are applying for.<\/p>\n
Here we profile three entry, mid and senior-level jobs typically found\u00a0in a university\u00a0HR\u00a0department.<\/p>\n
HE\u00a0Human Resources:\u00a0Entry-level\u00a0jobs<\/h3>\n
Job title:\u00a0<\/b>HR Assistant\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
Job description<\/h4>\n
HR\u00a0Assistants provide administrative support and respond to\u00a0employment-related\u00a0queries from\u00a0staff across the university.<\/p>\n
Main duties<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Responds to university employees in a customer services role.<\/li>\n
- Helps to coordinate recruitment campaigns and job adverts.<\/li>\n
- Carries out administrative tasks, such as processing letters and employment contracts.<\/li>\n
- Liaises with associated departments, such as Payroll and Pensions.<\/li>\n
- Advises staff about university employment policies\u00a0and recruitment.<\/li>\n
- Inputs and maintains records contained in the staff database.<\/li>\n
- Maintains HR web\u00a0pages\u00a0and gathers information for recruitment activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Qualifications and experience<\/h4>\n
A degree is not essential for entry level HR roles in higher education. Most positions at this level require candidates to have a minimum of 5 GCSES\u00a0at Grade C\/4\u00a0or above,\u00a0including English and\u00a0maths (or equivalent qualifications).<\/p>\n
Although specific knowledge\u00a0of\u00a0HR systems and services is not always necessary (training would be provided) you would need to have excellent IT skills and proven experience in using Microsoft Word and Excel.<\/p>\n
Salary<\/h4>\n
A higher education HR Assistant can expect to earn between \u00a316,700 and \u00a321,800 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.<\/p>\n
Essential skills and knowledge<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Excellent administrative, organisational and IT skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.<\/li>\n
- Excellent customer service skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the university.<\/li>\n
- A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.<\/li>\n
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.<\/li>\n
- A friendly, professional and confident manner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Career path<\/h4>\n
Most universities offer on-the-job training for entry-level HR roles and provide access to a range of learning and development courses which can lead to HR-related qualifications.<\/p>\n
On gaining experience you could progress to a more senior role\u00a0–\u00a0such as HR Officer-\u00a0or work as an\u00a0administrator in another area of\u00a0Professional\u00a0Services.<\/p>\n
Search for\u00a0HR Assistant jobs<\/a><\/p>\n
HE\u00a0Human Resources: Mid-level\u00a0jobs<\/h3>\n
Job title: HR Advisor\/Officer<\/h4>\n
Job\u00a0description<\/h4>\n
HR\u00a0Advisors\/Officers are responsible for providing advice and administrative support to staff across the university. They also help\u00a0to\u00a0recruit\u00a0new employees.<\/p>\n
Main duties<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Provides advice and guidance on HR queries, policies and procedures.<\/li>\n
- Provides guidance on employment law, grading evaluation and appraisals, grievance and disciplinary processes and immigration advice.<\/li>\n
- Manages the administration of recruitment activities, including placing job adverts, creating job descriptions, letters to applicants, shortlisting and interviewing.<\/li>\n
- Works closely with academic staff to ascertain staffing requirements and ensure funding is in place for posts.<\/li>\n
- Manages records for sick leave, annual leave, probationary periods, maternity and paternity leave.<\/li>\n
- Supports the HR Manager\/Director with casework,\u00a0recruitment projects and strategy.<\/li>\n
- Promotes equality and diversity\u00a0in recruitment, selection and progression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Qualifications and experience<\/h4>\n
A degree\u00a0(or equivalent HR\/Business qualifications)\u00a0is essential\u00a0for\u00a0mid-level\u00a0HE\u00a0HR posts\u00a0and most universities would expect candidates to have\u00a0had\u00a0experience in a similar role.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0the majority of\u00a0HR positions at this level, a\u00a0Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification<\/a>\u00a0at Level 5\u00a0or above\u00a0is highly desirable.<\/p>\n
Salary<\/h4>\n
A mid-level higher education HR Advisor\/Officer can expect to earn between \u00a326,500 and \u00a337,800 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.<\/p>\n
Essential\u00a0skills and knowledge<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Sound knowledge of HR policies, procedures and employment law, preferably within a HE context.<\/li>\n
- Excellent IT\u00a0and numeracy skills, with the ability to interpret and analyse complex statistical data.<\/li>\n
- Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, such as academic staff and the general public.<\/li>\n
- Outstanding customer service and organisational skills.<\/li>\n
- Knowledge of business and management within the HE recruitment context.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Career path<\/h4>\n
The next step up for a HR Advisor\/Officer would be HR Manager and then HR Director. Your university may assist you in gaining further professional qualifications accredited by\u00a0<\/b>the CIPD and\u00a0could also\u00a0help you to specialise in a specific area of HR such as Employee Relations, Pensions and Payroll or Health and Safety.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Search for\u00a0HR Advisor\/Officer Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n
HE\u00a0Human Resources: Senior-level\u00a0jobs\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Job title:\u00a0HR Manager<\/h4>\n
Job description<\/h4>\n
As a HR manager you would lead and guide an area of the HR department of a university. You would advise senior management on employment law and policy as well as manage the overall administrative tasks of the team.<\/p>\n
Main duties<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Provides advice,\u00a0guidance and support to all university staff, managers, departmental heads and the institution\u2019s senior leadership team on the whole range of HR policies and procedures.<\/li>\n
- Manages the recruitment of new staff, from vacancy approval to induction.<\/li>\n
- Handles employment relations issues, such as grievances and\u00a0disciplinary proceedings.<\/li>\n
- Ensures the university is appropriately staffed and showcased on an international level.<\/li>\n
- Provides detailed HR reports to the senior leadership team.<\/li>\n
- Oversees\u00a0the\u00a0training and development of employees.<\/li>\n
- Provides\u00a0leadership and support to the HR team and works closely with the HR Director to establish\u00a0strategy, policies and projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Qualifications and experience<\/h4>\n
A degree, preferably in a related area such as business, management or HR, is essential for senior level HR roles in\u00a0HE. Extensive experience in a similar HR management\u00a0and leadership\u00a0role is also\u00a0a must.<\/p>\n