Interim HR Manager/ Business Partner

Interim Senior HR Business Partner
Interim Assignment Approx 3 months | Hampshire | Full-Time | £350 per day Inside IR35

An educational organisation is seeking an experienced HR leader to provide interim support within a pivotal people leadership role.

Reporting directly to the Human Resources Director, you will take ownership of a broad portfolio spanning complex employee relations, senior stakeholder partnering, HR team leadership and strategic people initiatives. This is an opportunity to step into a well-established environment where your expertise will be valued from day one and where you can make a tangible impact across both operational and strategic HR activity.

Working closely with academic leaders, you will act as a trusted adviser on a wide range of people matters, supporting managers through complex challenges while helping to shape and deliver key people priorities. Alongside this, you will provide operational leadership for the HR Business Partnering function and deputise for the Human Resources Director when required.
This role offers the breadth, visibility and influence often associated with more senior HR leadership positions, making it a particularly attractive opportunity for experienced interim professionals who enjoy combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as a trusted adviser to academic managers and employees on day-to-day people matters.
• Coaching and supporting managers across the full range of people management and employee relations issues.
• Leading complex employee relations casework, including disciplinary, grievance, performance and other formal matters.
• Acting as an escalation point for complex employee relations issues across the wider organisation.
• Providing operational leadership to the HR Business Partnering team and ensuring a consistent approach to HR service delivery.
• Supporting workforce planning and recruitment activity for academic teams.
• Leading key annual people processes, including performance and pay review cycles.
• Working closely with specialist HR colleagues to ensure a joined-up and effective HR service.
• Supporting the delivery of strategic HR projects and wider people initiatives.
• Deputising for the Human Resources Director and representing HR with senior stakeholders when required.

You will bring:

• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience managing complex employee relations casework.
• Experience leading or managing HR teams.
• A proven ability to advise and influence senior leaders.
• Strong employment law knowledge and HR best practice expertise.
• The credibility to build trusted relationships and provide both support and constructive challenge.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.

Experience within an education environment would be advantageous, as would experience of working with trade unions.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• A genuinely broad senior HR leadership assignment.
• The opportunity to influence both strategic and operational people agendas.
• Direct exposure to senior leaders and key decision-makers.
• Leadership responsibility for an established HR Business Partnering team.
• A varied remit covering employee relations, performance management, workforce planning, recruitment and strategic project delivery.
• The opportunity to operate as Deputy HR Director within an educational environment.

Interested?

This assignment is likely to appeal to experienced Senior HR Business Partners, Heads of HR, HR Managers and Deputy HR Directors who enjoy working at pace, building strong stakeholder relationships and making a meaningful contribution from the outset.

For a confidential discussion and further information, please get in touch.