Job Purpose

We are the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays it's part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

The primary focus of the Lead People Business Partner (LPBP) will be to lead, manage and develop the team of People Business Partners (PBP); supporting the tactical delivery of the strategic People Plan (5 Pillars), and day-today people management issues. 

Reporting into the Head of Employee Relations, the post will support and lead on people projects, change programmes; managing the Trade Union relationship and associated activities.

The Lead People Business Partner will also be a People Business Partner to Executive members, and other senior leaders, within their designated Directorate areas, providing comprehensive, professional and customer and commercially focused HR service.

Approximately 1700 Trust employees.

Managing up to 5 HRBP’s.

Budget - contributes to the HR spend of £X pa.

Operates and manages the collective union agreements. 

Location

The role will be based working from home, with the allocation of a nearby Hub for collaborative working in either our Leeds, Birmingham, Gloucester, Milton Keynes, Ellesmere Port, Burnley or Newark offices.

Applicants would ideally be accessible to Leeds for intermittent catch ups with the leadership team.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

The LPBP will be developing and delivering HR initiatives that support the delivery of strategic and tactical programs; identifying/delivering process and performance improvements, sharing best practice across the HR Directorate and the Trust.

You will be pro-actively leading, and influencing, on a range of people initiatives across the full employee lifecycle at an operational & tactical level: for example, workforce planning, recruitment, employee engagement, ER case management, talent identification development and succession planning, management information and leadership development.

Key Accountabilities: 

As a PBP to partner with senior leaders to: Influence business change and the coaching of senior managers to deliver successful people change; Design and implement optimal organisation structure designs to meet business strategies; Provide senior stakeholder input on people initiatives and strategies; Identify and help to manage the people aspects of business strategy; Monitor organisational performance and implementing proactive HR & OD solutions to address challenge areas.

Support the on-going coaching of people leaders and the development of their capabilities to address people matters at source, prevention the escalation and seriousness of issues.

 all national People & OD strategies: policies, standards and procedures, and their implementation across Trust through the PBP team.  With guidance from the Head of Employee Relations, support the development and implementation of People Strategy and Plans for functional areas of the business.

To provide the day-to-day leadership support and guidance to the team of PBP’s ensuring that decision-making; activity and action are aligned to the delivery of the strategic People Plan – facilitating the delivery of PBP team meetings: coaching; performance reviews and providing support and guidance in relation to strategic, and local tactical people matters. 

Ensure a performance management culture is in place and an accurate, robust and credible talent plan is in place and actively utilise to support and inform development activity.  Manage succession planning to ensure resilience for all key roles. ensuring linkage across all functional areas, working closely with the Organisational Development team along with other key stakeholders.

Identify, sponsor and direct HR project delivery, managing change for specific projects and initiatives.

Working in collaboration with the Head of Employee Relations, oversee key complex ER cases in conjunction with ER and the legal team, making sound decisions to ensure business risk is mitigated and performance and behavioural standards are maintained. 

Implement and contribute to continual improvement and innovation ensuring the business / HR function is recognised for developing and delivering excellent people practices.

To coach, to share knowledge, internal and external ‘best practice’ and to build amongst the PBP’s a wider business and commercial contextual understanding of the ‘climate’ within which they operate.

Pro-actively support, and deputise for the Head of Employee Relations, specifically:

Support, and involvement in, the design and delivery of structural, organisational and behavioural people change programmes and subsequent delivery via the PBP’s. 

Specific focus on developing the Trust’s line / general manager capabilities to address key productivity issues such as performance improvement, sickness absence and internal dispute resolution.

Promoting, and supporting, through the PBP’s a focus on health & safety matters contributing to the furtherance of a health & safety culture.

Maintaining a positive working relationship/s with the Trust’s Union partners via regular engagement with National Convenors and the National Joint Officer Forum along with other key TU engagement events / meetings.

Active involvement in the national annual pay review and matters relating to proposed changes to terms & conditions of employment. 

Establish, maintain and utilise HR management information working with internal HR and Trust wide stakeholders. 

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

Technical: 

Good general standard of education, CIPD or relevant HR qualification preferred. 

Proven background working within an HR model utilising Centres of Expertise.

Track record of operating as a People Generalist, with experience of operating as a People Business Partner, desirable. 

Experience of supporting and embedding change whilst balancing the need to deliver short- and long-term sustainable benefits.

Experience of Talent management and succession planning.

Excellent understanding of employment law to manage change and ER agendas creatively.

Ability to develop a solid understanding of organisational requirements and to develop strategies and solutions to drive business performance.

Strong business & commercial acumen shown through evidence of developing and implementing new practices supportive of the achievement of business goals.

Experience of working within a complex matrix organisation, desirable. 

General:

Approachable from colleagues from all levels with excellent communications skills and strong relationship management capabilities at all levels.

Appreciation, on-going, of wider organisational challenges; constraints and priorities, contextual understanding.

Collaborative team player, possessing the ability to lead and motivate a small team of people through a flexible, adaptable, hands-on approach. 

Ability to lead with empathy, trust and understanding.

Capable of articulating a compelling strategic people vision for their business area.

Ability to influencing at all levels & to challenge senior managers in a positive & professional manner.

Able to deliver innovative business solutions using analytical and problem-solving approach.

Results orientated, taking initiative and ownership of issues.

Capable IT skills with proven ability to analyse raw data to conclude and summarise.

Independent self starters, able to maintain a progressive way of working.

To Apply:  click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV.

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Timeline:

Applications closed: WC 3rd January

Interviews: WC 17th January

We are currently conducting our interview processes virtually as we continue to respect and follow necessary social distancing guidance to protect our team and our candidates. You may be invited to a face to face further stage interview which will always be conducted following strict social distancing guidelines. 

What We Offer

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust.

In addition to your annual salary of up to £50,000 - £55,000 DOE, we offer a Car Cash Allowance (£450 per month), a generous pension scheme and other benefits. Further details can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits). 

We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of. All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.