Modern universities are vast, business-focused organisations which rely on recruiting the best academic, corporate and support staff from a highly competitive talent pool. The success of a university depends on the calibre of its academic staff and their research, so the HR team must rise to the challenge of hiring employees who will help the institution to achieve its vision.
The introduction of tuition fees prompted a seismic change in the UK higher education model and culture. HR teams have had to adapt to this change by recruiting and supporting a workforce which meets the changing needs of students.
With around 450,000 people employed in the UK higher education system, university HR teams perform a crucial role in ensuring current staff are well looked after, while also attracting the right people for a huge range of jobs.
What does the HR Office do?
The HR team provides a wide range of services to thousands of employees and develops innovative recruitment strategies which attract new talent and projects to the university.
HR is also responsible for shaping the culture of the university as being a great place to work in order to recruit and retain staff at every level of the organisation.
HR services and activities include:
- Advertising jobs, recruitment, selection and induction
- Staff development, training, rewards and performance management
- HR policy, legislation and equality, diversity and inclusion
- Staff health and wellbeing
- Pensions, payroll, staff benefits
- Sick leave and pay, maternity/paternity leave, annual leave
- Codes of Practice, grievances and disciplinary procedures
- Employment contracts and adherence to employment law
- Dissemination of HR policy and strategy development
Structure of HE Human Resources
The majority of higher education HR departments have a central team which is divided into sub-departments such as Recruitment, Pensions and Staff Development. The central team is responsible for the overall administration of HR services and provides advice to senior managers and the Executive Board on HR policy and strategy.
Most universities also have local HR teams or managers within each faculty or school who provide administrative support and advise on the staffing requirements of their areas.
Human Resources is usually led by a Director of HR, who sits on the university’s Executive Board and has overall responsibility for HR services. The Director also provides advice and develops projects which enhance the university’s reputation. A senior leadership team works under the Director, each responsible for an area of HR services and management.
What’s it like to work in higher education HR?
From cleaners to professors, universities employ thousands of staff with a range individual needs, all of whom require careful handling. A day in the life of an HR specialist would involve communicating with staff and colleagues about a variety of issues at all levels of the organisation, as well as carrying out complex administrative tasks.
HR is a rewarding, people-facing career which demands specialists to have excellent communication and problem-solving skills as well as the ability to connect with staff from all backgrounds. Universities recognise that effective HR is vital to the success of the organisation and HR teams are well-rewarded within this essential and diverse area of higher education Professional Services.
Below we take a closer look at three typical HE HR roles and what qualifications, knowledge and skills are required to work in a university HR department.
Higher Education Human Resources (HR)
Job Profiles
Higher education offers aspiring HR and recruitment professionals a wide range of roles across related departments. Entry-level roles such as HR, Recruitment or Payroll Assistant can progress to mid-level and senior positions such as HR Officer or Manager.
As with all higher education Professional Services and support positions, you can expect excellent opportunities to gain specialist qualifications and training as well as attractive salaries, benefits and flexible working conditions.
Here are some of the HR roles you might come across during your job search:
- Head/Director of Human Resources
- HR Manager
- HR Officer/Advisor/Consultant
- HR Business Manager
- Careers Consultant
- Talent and Recruitment lead
- Training and Education support officer
- Staff Development Officer
- Health and Safety Officer
- Payroll and Pensions Officer
- HR Assistant/Administrator
- Recruitment Assistant
- Data Input Clerk
The qualifications, experience and skills you will need for the above roles depend on what level of HR position you are applying for.
Here we profile three entry, mid and senior-level jobs typically found in a university HR department.
HE Human Resources: Entry-level jobs
Job title: HR Assistant
Job description
HR Assistants provide administrative support and respond to employment-related queries from staff across the university.
Main duties
- Responds to university employees in a customer services role.
- Helps to coordinate recruitment campaigns and job adverts.
- Carries out administrative tasks, such as processing letters and employment contracts.
- Liaises with associated departments, such as Payroll and Pensions.
- Advises staff about university employment policies and recruitment.
- Inputs and maintains records contained in the staff database.
- Maintains HR web pages and gathers information for recruitment activities.
Qualifications and experience
A degree is not essential for entry level HR roles in higher education. Most positions at this level require candidates to have a minimum of 5 GCSES at Grade C/4 or above, including English and maths (or equivalent qualifications).
Although specific knowledge of HR systems and services is not always necessary (training would be provided) you would need to have excellent IT skills and proven experience in using Microsoft Word and Excel.
Salary
A higher education HR Assistant can expect to earn between £16,700 and £21,800 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.
Essential skills and knowledge
- Excellent administrative, organisational and IT skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
- Excellent customer service skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the university.
- A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- A friendly, professional and confident manner.
Career path
Most universities offer on-the-job training for entry-level HR roles and provide access to a range of learning and development courses which can lead to HR-related qualifications.
On gaining experience you could progress to a more senior role – such as HR Officer- or work as an administrator in another area of Professional Services.
HE Human Resources: Mid-level jobs
Job title: HR Advisor/Officer
Job description
HR Advisors/Officers are responsible for providing advice and administrative support to staff across the university. They also help to recruit new employees.
Main duties
- Provides advice and guidance on HR queries, policies and procedures.
- Provides guidance on employment law, grading evaluation and appraisals, grievance and disciplinary processes and immigration advice.
- Manages the administration of recruitment activities, including placing job adverts, creating job descriptions, letters to applicants, shortlisting and interviewing.
- Works closely with academic staff to ascertain staffing requirements and ensure funding is in place for posts.
- Manages records for sick leave, annual leave, probationary periods, maternity and paternity leave.
- Supports the HR Manager/Director with casework, recruitment projects and strategy.
- Promotes equality and diversity in recruitment, selection and progression.
Qualifications and experience
A degree (or equivalent HR/Business qualifications) is essential for mid-level HE HR posts and most universities would expect candidates to have had experience in a similar role.
For the majority of HR positions at this level, a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification at Level 5 or above is highly desirable.
Salary
A mid-level higher education HR Advisor/Officer can expect to earn between £26,500 and £37,800 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.
Essential skills and knowledge
- Sound knowledge of HR policies, procedures and employment law, preferably within a HE context.
- Excellent IT and numeracy skills, with the ability to interpret and analyse complex statistical data.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, such as academic staff and the general public.
- Outstanding customer service and organisational skills.
- Knowledge of business and management within the HE recruitment context.
Career path
The next step up for a HR Advisor/Officer would be HR Manager and then HR Director. Your university may assist you in gaining further professional qualifications accredited by the CIPD and could also help you to specialise in a specific area of HR such as Employee Relations, Pensions and Payroll or Health and Safety.
Search for HR Advisor/Officer Jobs
HE Human Resources: Senior-level jobs
Job title: HR Manager
Job description
As a HR manager you would lead and guide an area of the HR department of a university. You would advise senior management on employment law and policy as well as manage the overall administrative tasks of the team.
Main duties
- Provides advice, guidance and support to all university staff, managers, departmental heads and the institution’s senior leadership team on the whole range of HR policies and procedures.
- Manages the recruitment of new staff, from vacancy approval to induction.
- Handles employment relations issues, such as grievances and disciplinary proceedings.
- Ensures the university is appropriately staffed and showcased on an international level.
- Provides detailed HR reports to the senior leadership team.
- Oversees the training and development of employees.
- Provides leadership and support to the HR team and works closely with the HR Director to establish strategy, policies and projects.
Qualifications and experience
A degree, preferably in a related area such as business, management or HR, is essential for senior level HR roles in HE. Extensive experience in a similar HR management and leadership role is also a must.
For most HR positions at this level, an advanced CIPD qualification at Level 7 and further specialist HR or business qualifications/specialisms are essential.
Salary
Higher education HR Managers can expect to earn between £52,000 and £65,000 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.
Essential skills and knowledge
- Leadership and management skills
- Sound knowledge of employment law, equality and diversity policy, disciplinary procedures, pensions and benefits.
- Ability to advise senior management on HR regulations and policy.
- Innovative project management skills and the ability to inspire change.
- Outstanding communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive information in a professional manner.
- Excellent organisational and IT skills and experience in managing employee databases.
- Proven track record in making a difference to employees’ lives and working conditions.
- Understanding of the staffing requirements of the higher education sector.
- Influencing and negotiating skills.
Career path
A higher education HR manager would work closely with the HR Director and other members of the university’s senior leadership team/Executive Board.
On gaining experience, a HR manager could progress to the position of HR Director or another senior leadership/policy development role within the university.