HR Director

About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU’s research institutes, four faculties, academic partners and Writtle College bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are one the largest providers of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the UK, and among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About the Role:
We are now seeking to appoint an HR Director to play a leading role in the realisation of our collective aims and strategy. This is an exciting time to join ARU and an outstanding opportunity to drive innovation across the institution.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer as the new HR Director, you will ensure that HR plays a proactive and pivotal role in the development and delivery of the university’s strategy. Contributing to the strategic leadership of the University as part of UET you will lead the focus on staff matters. Identifying and securing innovative initiatives and approaches to HR, you will continue to drive service effectiveness, business partnering and ongoing improvements. Working with a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally, including but not exclusive to academic colleagues, unions and governing bodies.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing HR strategies and policies across comparably large scale, diverse and complex portfolios. You will possess excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, and will be enthusiastic and passionate about delivering customer-focused HR Business Partnering services.

The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to play a leading role in the future success of the University and its wider impact across the region.

Deadline for applications is Midnight on Sunday 21st September 2025.

For further information and details on how to apply please visit the vacancy microsite at https://www.dixonwalter.co.uk/opportunities/aru-hrd/ or contact Simon Critchley.

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.

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