The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking two HR Managers to join our HR Team, providing key support in the delivery of HR services and implementing workforce change.

We have two roles to fill. This role, the HR Manager (Employee Resourcing) will have lead responsibility for key employee resourcing functions delivered by the Team; the other will lead on employee relations & development. Both managers will report to the Head of HR.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

The HR Team is a small, friendly team (6 people including these roles), part of the Academy’s Resources Directorate delivering HR, Finance, IT & AV, Facilities and Venue Sales & Marketing services. We take great pride in partnering and supporting our colleagues in the Academy, providing a professional and responsive service. We develop and implement change within the framework of the Academy’s People Strategy, which is currently being refreshed. The HR Managers will be involved in this work.

Managing, supporting and developing your staff is a core HR Manager responsibility and skill, together with an interest and commitment to developing your own management capability.  Both HR Managers will contribute to the development and implementation of the refreshed People Strategy, and related policy & process improvements in your lead work areas. You will be a resilient and effective communicator, able to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders. A keen attention to detail is essential, together with a proactive approach to problem solving, planning and prioritising. You will have a good understanding of, and experience in, applying HR best practice.

The HR Manager (Employee Resourcing) will lead on the provision of recruitment, selection, appointments and onboarding services, supported by one HR Officer and an HR Assistant. You will manage pay, benefits and pensions services, working with our payroll bureau and pensions administrator. This role also includes responsibility for wellbeing policies and services, acting as a key contact with internal and external stakeholders and providers, arranging essential mental health and first aid training and engaging with staff to keep wellbeing a primary focus for the Academy.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Line management

• Managing, supporting, and developing the HR Officer and HR Assistant, in line with the Academy’s policies, procedures and processes, and best people management practice.

• Establishing and maintaining effective communication with the HR Officer and HR Assistant, through team meetings and other opportunities - facilitating and encouraging their involvement and engagement.

• Proactively maximising opportunities to develop own management capability and potential, including ongoing HR professional development.

Recruitment, selection, appointments and onboarding

• Efficient management of related processes, including oversight of the Applied recruitment platform; working with external partners (agencies, advertisers, LinkedIn); working with colleagues in Resources Directorate (e.g. Facilities, IT); ensuring timely payment of supplier invoices.

• Partnering and engaging with Academy hiring managers, providing advice and support on options and decisions.

• Commissioning data and presenting reports to senior managers on recruitment, selection and appointment trends and issues. Supporting the Head of HR with workforce planning business partnering.

• Keeping related policies and best practice under review, proactively identifying areas for improvement and taking forward consequential action.

Pay, benefits and pensions

• Confirming monthly pay changes, ensuring accurate reporting and uploads to the payroll; identifying, resolving and raising any issues as required.

• Working with the Head of HR on pay strategy and pay & benefits policies, to ensure these are up-to-date and reflect best practice. Consulting with staff on changes.

• Management oversight of pensions service, including communications with staff and liaison with SAUL pension scheme administrators. Ensuring that monthly contributions and joiner /leaver actions are implemented promptly and accurately, as required.

Wellbeing policies and services

• Ensuring that health issues are identified (new starters and existing staff) and appropriate action taken including commissioning occupational health assessments.

• Leading on the development, implementation and ongoing review of wellbeing policies. Liaising with Facilities Team on links with health & safety.

• Management oversight of wellbeing-related services and supplier contracts and relationships, ensuring that issues are identified promptly and addressed.

• Liaising with HR Team colleagues on the delivery of mental health training and first-aid training,

People Strategy development and implementation

• Working with the Head of HR and other team members to take forward the Strategy as a whole, contributing ideas and applying wider knowledge and experience to the Academy context.

• Consulting with staff through team meetings, the Staff Engagement Forum and HR News / HR intranet.

• HR Team lead for Recruitment & Selection work strand.

• HR Team lead for the Wellbeing work strand.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

• Hiring managers at all levels; staff, including new joiners; colleagues in IT, Facilities, Front of House and Digital & Marketing teams. Department Heads.

External

• Job applicants, recruitment agencies, referees, training and service providers. External suppliers (payroll, pensions).

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

Level 5 or 7 CIPD qualification, or demonstrable commitment to work towards achieving this.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works and communicates effectively

• Is proactive in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with others internally and externally

• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards helping others by providing appropriate support, using initiative and not waiting to be asked

• Adopts a communication style appropriate to the situation and the audience, understanding that communication is two-way

• Is sensitive to different working styles and views, adapting where appropriate

• Is willing and able to compromise and negotiate, including to resolve possible conflicts

• Handles difficult situations with sensitivity & respect

• Communicates effectively with staff across departments

• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills

• Demonstrates credible HR knowledge and skills

• Demonstrates a business-partnering mindset

• Is receptive to new ideas and change, adapting own ways of working as appropriate

• Makes suggestions for improving the way things are done

• Is aware of own strengths and weaknesses, and prepared to admit own mistakes

• Seeks and uses opportunities to learn and develop, and is quick in picking up new tasks

• Shares knowledge and skills with others

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives

• Prioritises tasks to meet deadlines and manages expectations appropriately

• Displays resilience in coping with workload

• Keeps relevant colleagues informed and seeks input

• Evaluates and manages risks effectively

• Reliably takes ownership of tasks, including delegating effectively where appropriate

• Monitors progress effectively and adapts plans where possible

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach

• Identifies problems and opportunities and acts on them

• Has a pro-active, can do, attitude, taking personal responsibility for correcting problems or resolving issues

• Focuses on solutions and manages pressure

• Anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead

• Copes with the unexpected

• Sets the right balance between referring decisions to the appropriate level and taking things forward without referral

LEADERSHIP

Gives a clear sense of direction while inspiring others with vision and actions

• Inspires personal trust, engenders kinship around a shared vision

• Shows integrity and wisdom, decisiveness and consistency, sincerity and honesty, especially under pressure

• Tackles and owns difficult issues, resolves rather than avoids conflict

• Looks to the medium and long-term future, anticipates change

• Enables and empowers others to effect change

• Is courageous, making and seeing difficult decisions through in a calm manner, handling crises well

• Takes responsibility on behalf of a team (for difficult issues and equally for mistakes), leads by example, attracts support

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Takes a flexible approach to their work, happy to take on different responsibilities in the interests of the HR Team and the Academy.

BRITISH ACADEMY WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference

APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview and may involve a task component.

Please note that you may be asked to reference any literature that you may refer to, as applications that are highly plagiarised and not your own work. e.g. ChatGPT, will be declined.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 22/23 February 2024 but this may be subject to change.