Head of People (Business Partnering, Operations and Employee Relations) (1558)

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships. 

We have an excellent opportunity for a professional and inspirational individual with outstanding leadership, communication and organisational skills to join our dedicated People Team. As Head of People (Business Partnering, Operations and Employee Relations) you will lead the Business Partners and HR Operations function in driving positive change throughout the charity, enhancing, creating, and embedding HR programs, processes and performance strategies across the organisation globally to ensure the effective management of our diverse workforce.

About you:

• FCIPD qualified with substantial post qualification experience (or equivalent expertise through experience) of working within a multi-site environment.
• Significant experience of highly complex Employee Relations issues. Strong knowledge of employment law and significant experience of managing and advising others on Employee Relations matters.
• Able to establish, build and maintain successful professional partnerships with relevant managers, enhancing the credibility of the People Team service.
• Experience of operating a Business Partnering approach to service delivery.
• Demonstrable experience of influencing and liaising at senior management or executive level.
• A proven track record of leading change management projects and people strategy development.
• Substantial leadership experience, including leading, coaching and motivating multi-discipline, multi-site teams.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities within this rewarding and multi-functional role will include –

• Participating fully as a member of the People Team Leadership team to align people and organisational strategies as key enablers, sustainably delivering measurable outcomes.
• Developing and implementing strategic HR initiatives aligned with organisational goals and objectives.
• Ensuring the People Function is recognised and valued as a strategic business partner offering relevant expertise and advice, proactively sharing insights and shaping change to efficiently deliver strategic priorities.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with external networks and other HR professionals to ensure that The Donkey Sanctuary makes best use of current practice, methodology and ideas.
• Building and maintaining a highly motivated, high performing and collaborative team with the appropriate skills to deliver the current and future people needs of the whole organisation.
• Ensuring the provision of a professional HR advisory service to the organisation, advising on complex and sensitive organisational and people issues to enable senior managers to take appropriate action in an effective and timely manner.
• Working with the Learning and Development, Total Reward, and Health and Safety teams to utilise the skillset and role of the Business Partners to help drive the People Team strategy and initiatives.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

The working pattern for this role will combine onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles, with onsite attendance currently anticipated to be 1-2 days per week.

Benefits:  

Competitive pension.

Life Assurance.

31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.

Wellbeing Team.

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.

Long Service Awards.

Healthshield Plan –

• Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.
• Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets.
• Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.

Free parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 7  January 2024.

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.