Location: Bristol
£56,209 - £58,820 plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension
12 month fixed term contract
The opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced HR Business Partner (HRBP) with a solid background in casework management and employment law to join our team during a busy period and play a key role in delivering strategic HR solutions across the organisation.
Who we are
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England – we regulate higher education on behalf of all students. Our mission is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers
The role
As an HR Business Partner, you’ll provide a proactive, professional HR service that supports the delivery of the OfS’s strategic aims and objectives. You’ll work closely with an assigned directorate, tailoring HR solutions to meet both organisational and directorate needs. Collaboration is key—you’ll partner with other HRBPs and working leads to maintain and improve HR processes across the organisation, ensuring consistency and best practice. This is an opportunity to get involved with driving forward our ambitious people strategy.
About you
You’ll have solid experience as an HR Business Partner, with a strong understanding of employment law and casework management. Your background includes developing and implementing HR policies, interpreting and utilising HR management information, and using your facilitation skills to engage and develop stakeholders effectively.
You have the ability to link HR initiatives to wider organisational objectives. Ideally, you’ll also bring experience of working within the public sector or Civil Service, but most importantly, you’ll be proactive, collaborative, and committed to delivering an exceptional HR service.
Core responsibilities
* Partner with leaders to understand their priorities and deliver tailored HR solutions that support both people and organisational goals
* Provide expert guidance on employment law and manage casework with fairness, sensitivity, and professionalism, ensuring positive outcomes for all involved
* Shape policies and processes that promote best practice and inclusivity, making sure they are clear, accessible, and aligned with our organisational attitudes.
* Use data and insights to identify trends, inform decisions, and develop evidence-based strategies that improve the employee experience
* Support change and growth, helping teams adapt confidently to organisational changes while fostering engagement and resilience
* Coach and empower managers to build confidence in people management, offering practical advice and support to develop their leadership capability
Essential experience
* Proven HRBP experience
* Employment law and casework management
* HR policy development and implementation
* Strong facilitation and communication skills, to build and maintain relationships with a wider range of stakeholders
* Ability to assess and manage the impact of change and support change readiness
* Ability to utilise and interpret data and business intelligence to identify key people issues and develop evidence-based people solutions
* Commitment to contribute to the continuous improvement of frontline and corporate support services.
* Ability to resiliently manage a range of conflicting priorities, often at pace, understanding that roles can frequently be pressurised and priorities varied
* A strong background in supporting line managers with people management and development issues
Desirable experience
* Public sector or Civil Service experience
Application Process
As part of the application process, we will ask you to submit:
* Your CV, highlighting your relevant experience and skills for the HR Business Partner role
* A short questionnaire, which will help us understand how your expertise aligns with the role requirements
If you’re shortlisted, the next stage will include:
* A work-based assessment, designed to reflect key responsibilities of the role
* An interview, where you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, experience, and approach
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or selection process, please contact us at recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk and we will be happy to help.
Working for us
The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.
We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
At the OfS, we recognise that flexibility can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two to three days in a typical week.
To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working and part time working apply to this role.
In addition, our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your way of life. These include comprehensive learning and development, annual leave starting at 25 days per year (plus public holidays), access to the highly regarded Civil Service pension scheme and a variety of health benefits.
Closing date for applications: 12pm on Monday 15th December
Interviews will take place early January.