HR Operations Manager

The Department of Biology is seeking to appoint an HR Operations Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to continue to shape the HR function in a busy academic department within the University of Oxford. The HR Team is dynamic and supportive, providing a comprehensive HR service to Departmental staff supporting the full employee life cycle.

You will take a lead role in management of administration of the employee life cycle, HR projects, the development of HR initiatives and bringing forward ideas for improvement and efficiency. You will deputise for the Head of HR with day-to-day management of the HR function, providing support and guidance to the team as required. You will take the lead on individual employee cases and provide guidance to line managers in the management of complex casework in conjunction with the Head of HR.

Building effective working relationships with academics and their staff, overseeing end-to-end processes, you will be responsible for ensuring the provision of an effective HR service to the department, for contributing to the wider management of the department through the development and implementation of departmental HR strategy and procedures. The role includes recruitment and selection, onboarding, contracts, overseas engagements, grading and remuneration and providing advice to managers and dealing with general issues relating to employment law and immigration regulations.

To be successful, you will need to have extensive experience of building and managing HR processes to deliver an efficient, customer centred and audit proof HR service.

You will be qualified or working toward CIPD level 5 or have equivalent experience. You will need to have thorough and up to date knowledge of employment law and be able to make sound decisions, by evaluating the risks and be able to provide confidential HR advice in a prompt and timely manner. You will have proven ability to deliver highly effective line management, and you will need to be able to communicate with a variety of people with tact and discretion. The role will suit someone who is happy to deal with change and has the resilience and capacity to adapt.

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

This post is full-time, available immediately and will require a minimum of 3 days per week of office presence.

Enquiries may be directed to the Head of HR - Biology, Emily Sharp (emily.sharp@biology.ox.ac.uk). The closing date for applications is midday on Monday 24 March 2025, and interviews are likely to be held in early April.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

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