Senior Human Resources Business Partner

University of East Anglia; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent university in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior HR Business Partner to deliver strategic HR services. This leadership role involves overseeing employee relations and shaping the People Strategy within a collaborative team. The ideal candidate should possess significant experience in employee relations and change management, preferably in a regulated environment. The position offers a competitive salary with flexible working options and generous annual leave. Closing date for applications is 23 January 2026.

Benefits

44 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Significant experience of employee relations matters.
• Experience in change management and strategic HR services.
• Knowledge of HR in a complex, regulated, and unionised environment.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver strategic and operational HR services across the client area.
• Oversee all employee relations issues within the client area.
• Develop and review the People Strategy and translate business needs into HR initiatives.

Skills

People management

Employee relations

Change management

Strategic HR initiatives

Collaborative team working

Job description

Starting salary from £48,822 per annum, dependent on skills and experience, with an annual increment up to £56,535 per annum.

Are you passionate about people management? Do you have the ability to quickly develop credible, professional relationships and work collaboratively as a trusted adviser and strategic partner? If so, we want to hear from you!

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Senior HR Business Partner to join our HR Business Partnering Team!

As a Senior HR Business Partner, working within a supportive and collaborative team, this pivotal leadership role will shape and deliver strategic and operational HR services across a client area comprising both academic and professional services. Working with the Associate Director of HR Business Partnering, you will play a key role in the development and continual review of our People Strategy, helping to translate business need into actionable HR initiatives.

You will have significant experience of employee relations matters to enable you to confidently oversee all ER issues within your client area, working closely with your team of HR Business Partners, supporting and coaching them to ensure the provision of a high quality, robust and consistent service, dealing with all matters proactively and promptly, and taking a lead in more complex cases as required.

You will have change management experience gained through directly relevant work, with knowledge and understanding of the full end to end management of the implementation process, from planning, engagement, and communications through to delivery and co-ordination of all HR resource activities as required. You will have gained your HR generalist experience within a complex, regulated and unionised environment, and previous knowledge and experience of working within an NHS environment would be advantageous.

This full-time post is available on an indefinite basis.

UEA offers a variety of flexible working options and although this role is advertised on a full-time basis, we encourage applications from individuals who would prefer a flexible working pattern including annualised hours, compressed working hours, part time, job share, term-time only and/or hybrid working. Details of preferred hours should be stated in the personal statement and will be discussed further at interview.

Further information on our great benefits package, including 44 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays and additional University Customary days (pro rata for part-time), can be found on our benefits page.

Closing date: 23 January 2026

The University holds an Athena Swan Silver Institutional Award in recognition of our advancement towards gender equality.