Director of People and Culture

Director of People and Culture (Professional Services)

People and Culture

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a transformative and collaborative human resources leader to head up the delivery of the People and Culture functions at the University of Essex. Our Director of People and Culture will take the strategic lead for people-related activities, health, safety and wellbeing, and organisational development. The University of Essex was the UK’s University of the Year (2018). We’re part of an elite group of ‘dual intensive’ universities, gold-rated for teaching excellence (TEF2017) and top 25 for research in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020.

The People and Culture Section of the University is at the heart of all we do. The People and Culture team looks after our human resources functions, including resourcing, employee relations and reward, and also plays a central role in developing our organisation, through the provision of tailored and innovative learning and development opportunities for all staff, and in supporting our academics in providing technology-enhanced learning for our 16,000 students. It also supports the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in promoting the University’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and inclusion. The Section is, moreover, home to our Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing team, which provides occupational health services to our 4,000 employees and manages our Health and Safety Advisory Service.

Duties of the Role

You will be responsible for leading professional colleagues in the provision of a full range of proactive human resources services. As part of our senior team of academic and professional leaders, your professional skills and expertise will provide an essential component of the leadership capacity we need in order to achieve our ambitious strategic goals. You will operate as a senior leader across the University, building collaborative relationships with key academic and professional service stakeholders, cementing trust and understanding the community in order to effect change.

You will lead a transformative people strategy, delivering enhancements in people management and organisational development across the University. You will provide strong functional leadership to the People and Culture teams.

(Full details of the duties can be found in the job pack)

Skills and qualifications required

In order to be successful, you must be a Chartered Member of CIPD and have a degree or equivalent professional qualification.

You will be responsible for leading professional colleagues in the provision of a full range of proactive human resources services. As part of our senior team of academic and professional leaders, your professional skills and expertise will provide an essential component of the leadership capacity we need in order to achieve our ambitious strategic goals. You will operate as a senior leader across the University, building collaborative relationships with key academic and professional service stakeholders, cementing trust and understanding the community in order to effect change. You will lead a transformative people strategy, delivering enhancements in people management and organisational development across the University. You will provide strong functional leadership to the People and Culture teams.

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

To support this commitment we have our Global Forum, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives. For more information see: https://www.essex.ac.uk/life/student-facilities/religion-and-faith

Please visit our website (http://www.essex.ac.uk/vacancies/) for a full job description, person specification and more information relating to this post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application.  Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please email the Resourcing Team (resourcing@essex.ac.uk).

Closing Date: 29 September 2020
Interview Date: 29 October  2020