HR Business Partner

Location:Based at Service Headquarters, Exeter - work location can be flexible on agreement with Line Manager. Expectation is that you will need to work from a Service location for at least 2 days per week.

Contract:Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week)

Salary:Starting at£44,253 rising annually to£47,665

Help Shape the Future of Our Workforce.

Join Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, England's largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service, and play a key role in delivering a modern, inclusive and high performing people service that supports the workforce.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated HR Business Partner to join our HR Business Partnering team.

About the role:

As an HR Business Partner, you will support the delivery of our People Strategy by partnering with managers and teams across the Service. Acting as a trusted advisor, strategic partner and critical friend, you will provide expert HR guidance on a wide range of people matters, helping managers make informed decisions and enabling positive workforce outcomes.

In addition to your business partnering responsibilities, you will take a lead role in one of the team's key areas of focus:

• Policy and Procedures
• Casework
• Change and Trade Union Relations
• Management Development
• Job Evaluation

Key responsibilities:

Strategic HR Partnership and Policy Development:

You will:

• Provide proactive, high-quality HR advice and guidance that supports the People Strategy, workforce plans and Service objectives.
• Build effective partnerships with managers and senior leaders, promoting consistency, fairness and best practice across people processes.
• Support organisational change projects, restructures, reviews, reorganisations, redundancies and contractual changes.
• Lead the review and development of HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with legislation and organisational need.
• Contribute to Service-wide projects, providing professional HR expertise and insight.

Employee Relations and Case Management:

You will:

• Manage complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and long--term sickness matters.
• Provide HR support and advice throughout formal hearings and meetings.
• Ensure policies and procedures are applied fairly, consistently and in line with legislation and Service expectations.
• Analyse HR Data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement and support informed decision making.
• Maintain positive and constructive relationships with Trade Unions, Service representatives, Speak Up Guardians and Staff Networks.

Workforce Planning and Talent Management:

You will:

• Support workforce planning, succession planning and talent management activities across operational and professional services teams.
• Work with managers to identify capability requirements and develop plans to meet future workforce needs.
• Provide guidance on Job Evaluation processes, including reviewing role requirements and developing job descriptions.
• Partner with operational management teams on workforce-related matters, including working patterns and secondary contracts.

Employee Wellbeing and Development:

You will:

• Promote a positive, inclusive workplace that supports employee engagement and wellbeing.
• Work closely with Health and Wellbeing colleagues to facilitate appropriate workplace support and return-to-work arrangements.
• Coach and support managers to build confidence and capability in managing people issues.
• Research, develop and deliver training to support management development and policy implementation.

To be eligible to apply you must hold:

• CIPD Level 7, or equivalent experience and/or qualification demonstrating a theoretical understanding of Human Resource Management.

At Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, your work will make a real difference to the communities we serve. In addition, we offer:

• Flexible working options.
• Excellent annual leave entitlement
• Health and wellbeing support, including gym access, physiotherapy and counselling services.
• Family friendly policies.
• Blue Light Card membership and associated discounts.
• A supportive, collaborative and inclusive working environment.

• Good working knowledge and understanding of day-to-day HR and ER activities and up to date knowledge of employment law.
• Recent experience of working in a complex HR environment as an HR Business Partner, in particular experience of employee relations and case work.
• Experience of providing innovative HR support and advice in a challenging and fast paced…