About ARU
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK. At our ARU Writtle campus, we specialise in animal, environmental, agricultural and horticultural courses, for learners aged 16 to 18, adult learners, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
* Job Category: Administrative
* Vacancy Type: Permanent
* Employment Type: Full time
* Salary From: £46,049
* Salary To: £56,535
* Location: Writtle
* Faculty/Prof Service: HR Services
* Closing Date: 12/12/2025
* Ref No: 3759
* Job Description Person Specification (PDF, 905.82kb)
* Candidate Brief (PDF, 2664.26kb)
About The Role
Sitting within the HR Partnering Team and managing a cluster of team members, including HR Advisors and HR Coordinators, you’ll play a key role to the development and delivery of a proactive, effective and strategic HR Service, in line with ARU People Strategy. You’ll act as an internal consultant and will support managers in meeting their objectives and suggesting solutions to people management challenges. You’ll manage and undertake employee relations case work including staff discipline, grievance, redundancy, ill-health and early retirement, and you’ll oversee probationary processes, providing advice and guidance on more complex cases.
You will be qualified to degree level or have a Professional HR qualification (PG Dip or equivalent) and a Chartered MCIPD. Previous HR management experience is essential as is experience of working with managers and staff at all levels, as well as project work and policy development is essential, as well as working knowledge of current UK and EU employment law, the ability to build strong working relationships and to influence and coach at all levels. Given the nature of the role and the sensitivity of different employee relations case work, you’ll have the ability to remain calm under pressure and to challenge and suggest innovative solutions. Previous HR management experience within the UK education sector would be advantageous but not essential.
Informal enquiries can be made to Susan Alabaster, Senior HR Partner at susan.alabaster@aru.ac.uk.
Interviews are expected to take place w/c 15 December.
Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates.
All appointments at ARU Writtle are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a satisfactory enhanced criminal records with Children’s Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.
This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
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