People Business Partner

People Business Partner

Fixed Term (12 months), Full Time (37 hours per week)

Up to £86,131 per annum plus benefits

Location: Chelmsford*

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 2nd March 2025

*This is a hybrid-working role, with attendance in the Chelmsford office or functional work locations expected to be to 2 days per week on average, depending on business need.

This is a fixed-term contract or secondment maternity cover opportunity for a period of 12 months.

We are looking for exceptional people leaders to join our established People Business Partner Team. The business partnering model is well established within Essex County Council (ECC) and is focused on the people agenda and in particular, developing the strategic approach in building future capability across ECC.

Our People Business Partners build critical relationships within business functional areas, driving people strategies to ensure improved performance across the business, with a particular emphasis on the delivery of the workforce strategy and associated initiatives.

Operating as an exemplary professional within an agile environment with a clear focus and drive on continuous professional development, you will have the credibility and gravitas to influence the most senior levels within the organisation through creative thinking and problem solving and will play a critical role in the delivery of visionary initiatives to develop a world class workforce.

You will also have the resourcefulness and resilience needed to work with our functions to identify areas for improvement and proactively and successfully lead through change, for the benefit of our people, the organisation and residents.

To read more about us please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health - Working for Essex

Accountability will include:

• Operational planning and performance reviews to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensure the political objectives and priorities of the council are met
• Working collaboratively within and across functions to support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
• Maintaining and nurturing collaborative relationships with other teams, functions and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans.
• Implementing changes to improve the area of work, while ensuring the highest possible levels of service quality are continually maintained
• Managing complex issues to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes
• Coaching leaders to understand, assess and improve team capability, increase capacity and prioritise the factors which have the greatest impact on the ability to deliver business outcomes, acting as a critical friend, to lead and shape wider organisational strategies and transformational change.
• Monitoring and evaluating functional workforce performance, leading on analysis, reporting and capability needs specifications, giving advice within the organisation's policy framework; taking a lead role in the development, monitoring and assessment of annual performance objectives for Executive Directors and their leadership teams.
• Building, managing and maintaining trusted relationships with senior leaders, acting as confidant and forming alliances with internal and external stakeholders, identifying emerging trends and best practice
• Leading on strategic level and complex projects and activities across People and Organisation Development, taking a portfolio lead for an area of specialism

The Experience you will bring

Extensive experience as a senior HR professional, knowing what external HR thought leaders and benchmark organisations are doing, in a variety of areas, with the ability to consider how lessons may apply to the organisation. You will know how to design and develop people activities and interventions to improve business outcomes.

Understanding of the broad legal context and employee relations landscape with the ability to influence and coach the business. Confident application of employment and case law knowledge to proactively manage complex employee relations issues and mitigate organisational risk

Working knowledge of the critical factors in planning change and the stages and phases of project and programme management. You will also be able to identify risks and create mitigation plans and develop the business case for significant change programmes and manage implementation, seeking opportunities to understand blockages and drive continuous improvement, including seeking ideas and feedback from customers.

Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience and is professionally qualified to MCIPD and ideally FCIPD.

What's in it for you?

• Generous Time Off: Starting with 27 days of holiday, which increases with your length of service, plus 8 bank holidays and up to 4 paid volunteer days each year to give back to your community.
• Secure Your Future: Benefit from enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), ensuring your financial security for the future.
• Health and Wellbeing: Access to comprehensive medical insurance to keep you and your family healthy.
• Travel: Choose between our car provision scheme or an annual allowance to suit your needs.
• Professional Growth: We cover the payment of professional fees for approved professions, supporting your career development.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements, allowing you to balance work with your personal life.

To read more please visit our Pay & Reward page on our careers site.

Why Essex?

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. As part of our team, we kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, not only during the recruitment process but also throughout your time with us. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have any queries on this role or would be interested in having an informal discussion with the hiring manager, please email ##### and we will try to accommodate this.

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