Assistant Director of HR - HR Operations

Join our team at Queen Mary, as the Assistant Director of HR - HR Operations, where you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our workforce.

In this critical leadership position, you'll report directly to the Director of HR and working closely the HR leadership team drive strategic initiatives and ensure the delivery of a highly effective HR service that supports managers to develop a people-oriented, high-performance culture that emphasises engagement, productivity and quality and is aligned with the University Strategy 2030.

The post holder will lead and oversee the following specific services:

• Recruitment and HR Operations Teams– Responsible for coordinating the recruitment and onboarding of all staff and providing expert employment administration support across the full employee lifecycle.
• Reward and Benefits Team - Responsible for pay and reward strategy and compliance, including staff benefits and expertise in global mobility. The payroll and pensions team provide an expert payroll and pensions function, including advice on regulatory changes.
• Workforce Data and Analytics Team - The team are responsible for the accurate and up to date provision of data analysis and reporting, including the provision of data dashboards that support workforce strategy, and expert advice and input into EDI analysis and reporting e.g. pay gap reporting.

The post holder will be a member of the HR Leadership team (HRLT) and a member of the Senior Professional Services Group, working with other senior colleagues across Professional Services.

The Post holder will:

• Work closely with the Director of HR, to provide effective leadership to the Recruitment and HR Operations, Reward and Benefits, and Workforce data and analytics teams ensuring effective and efficient deployment of staff; that the work of the teams directly supports the work of Queen Mary and is aligned with stakeholder requirements and expectations and organisational priorities and needs.
• Develop a performance culture within the HR directorate that embraces continuous improvement ensuring a high standard of service is delivered.
• Play a key role in ensuring that the HR Directorate is enabling the strategic ambitions and direction of the University.

What we are looking for:

• A HR leader with significant HR leadership experience in a large, complex organisation and a track record of delivering effective operational HR services.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire and develop HR teams, with a collaborative and empowering approach.
• Flexible and agile, adapting to changing and complex situations
• Able to influence at the highest level
• customer-focused mindset, with a service improvement focus, using data and feed back to develop services and positive impact
• A track record of achieving service level indicators and KPIs for effective service delivery, including for HR Operations services
• In depth knowledge of end-to-end employment cycle best practice, including related to recruitment and reward
• The successful candidate will be educated to degree level in a relevant subject area (or equivalent experience) and be a Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD (or equivalent through professional HR experience.

About the Department

The HR Function sits within Professional Services and is part of the Chief Operations Officers remit.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, campus facilities and flexible working arrangements.

The post is based at Department W (Whitechapel).

It is a full-time role, fixed term initially for 12 months with a view to establishing the role on a permanent basis.

The expected start date is October 2025.

The starting salary will be in the range of £76,952 - £84,329 per annum.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to HR Director, Louise Lester at l.lester@qmul.ac.uk

To further details and to apply for the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button above.

The closing date for applications is Monday 14^th July 2025

Interviews are expected to be held w/c 28^th July 2025 or shortly thereafter.

Valuing Diversity & Committed to Equality