Head of People Business Partnering and Operations

Head of People Business Partnering and Operations
Permanent, full time, 37 hours per week (1.0FTE)
Band 7 – £50,253 to £58,226 per annum

Shape and deliver impactful People services and practice at the University of Suffolk

Are you an experienced People (HR) professional ready to lead transformative change and position an ambitious university as an Employer of Choice? The University of Suffolk is seeking an effective, solution-focussed Head of People Business Partnering & Operations to join our People & Organisational Development (POD) Directorate.

This is a pivotal People leadership role, working closely with the Chief People Officer and Deputy Director to deliver our People Strategy – a key enabler of the University’s 10-year vision for growth and transformation.

What You’ll Do

-Lead and Inspire: Strategically manage our Business Partnering, Resourcing, and People Operations functions, ensuring a customer-focused, commercially minded, and solution-driven service.
-Drive Transformation: Oversee key projects and programmes that embed a positive, solution-focussed and inclusive people culture and deliver high-performance, enabling outcomes.
-Collaborate at Every Level: Partner with senior leaders and stakeholders to shape organisational design, People priorities and workforce planning.
-Champion Best Practice: Ensure compliance with employment law and HR best practice (and manage complex employee relations, organisational change, recruitment and HR service matters) whilst innovating processes for efficiency and impact.
-Use Data to Drive Delivery: Embed the use and development of data to drive decision making and improve outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

-A proven People (HR) leader with deep knowledge of employment law, people strategy and best practice in the management of change and people activities.
-Exceptional communication and influencing skills, able to engage confidently across all levels in person and in writing.
-Experience in leading an operational HR function and delivering transformational change.
-A proactive, solution-focused mindset with the ability to balance strategic vision and operational excellence.
-A team player – able to bring the best out in individuals.
-Strong planning and performance / accountability management skills, which translate into supporting the best People outcomes.

Why Join Us?

-Be part of a forward-thinking university committed to innovation and inclusivity.
-Be part of a talented team in shaping the future of our people approach to deliver positive people outcomes and a fit for purpose workforce.
-Enjoy a collaborative culture and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

-Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for Bands 1-4 and 30 days for Bands 5 and above, plus 8 bank holidays and any university closure days.
-Enjoy an extra day of paid leave on your birthday, subject to qualifying/service conditions.
-Flexible working, including family friendly policies.
-Competitive workplace pension scheme (USS) – with an employer contribution rate of 14.5%, tax relief on contributions and life cover.
-Staff discounts at a number of local amenities in Ipswich.
-Discounted membership at Adastral Park Leisure and Sports.
-Access to a range of high-quality learning and development opportunities.
-Discounted rates for staff approved to study a UoS undergraduate or postgraduate course, subject to a set of criteria and conditions.
-Cycle to Work scheme.
-Electric vehicle salary sacrifice.
-Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
-Staff recognition annual awards.

Closing date: Sunday 7 December 2025
Provisional interview date: Tuesday 16 December 2025

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Ataylia Clarke – Resourcing Co-ordinator (A.clarke8@uos.ac.uk), who will make appropriate arrangements for this.

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