Head of People Partnering-a

We are seeking an experienced and technically strong HR professional to join us as Head of People Partnering-a pivotal leadership role within the People Department, shaping our approach to employee and industrial relations in support of our exciting Distinctively Brighton 2035 strategy.
This is a high-impact role where you will lead the vision and development of the People Partnering team within a fast-paced, unionised environment. Working collaboratively with colleagues and senior leaders across the University, you will strengthen business partnering, employee relations and policy development, while fostering effective trade union relationships. This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a values-led university undergoing transformation, contributing to initiatives that support staff and students to thrive.

We are looking for someone with strong employment law expertise and a proven track record of managing complex employee relations casework, including Employment Tribunals. You will enable others to drive continuous improvement in policies, processes, and ways of working, delivering pragmatic solutions that balance risk, compliance and university priorities. A CIPD or Masters Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience) is essential and experience in the Higher Education sector and/or industrial relations environment is desirable.

Working for the University has numerous benefits including access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, 27 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days from the 1^st of September) as well as discretionary closure days over the winter period. We also offer an Agile Worker Framework to help support a healthy work-life balance alongside our benefits scheme which includes a range of discounts on supermarkets and other retailers.