Deputy Head of People and Od

**Job Purpose**

To contribute to the provision of strategic POD leadership for University Services as a fully functioning business partner, working closely with the Head of POD, and to ensure the delivery of a pro-active, solutions focussed POD service to designated business areas. Make a strong contribution to the development and implementation of POD policy and procedure on a local and University wide basis and take a lead role in supporting team professional development and ensuring the delivery of an excellent POD administrative support service across all US client groups.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**
- Deliver, embed and promote a pro-active POD business partner approach and a high quality professional service, coaching leaders and managers in the provision of business-orientated solutions to people related matters and providing expert insights into the associated people implications of business decisions to enhance University Services performance.
- Work with the Head of POD to ensure that corporate POD strategic and operational priorities are translated into clear team objectives and plans and are monitored and delivered accordingly to agreed timescales. Make a strong contribution to the development, refinement and implementation of corporate POD strategy, initiatives, policies and procedures, including the current POD transformation agenda.
- Advise and support Directors, Heads of Service and other managers on a broad range of people issues, particularly in relation to organisational change, redundancy/restructuring, performance management, discipline, grievance, pay and reward and absence management. Acting as POD lead on cases, working with managers to analyse cases, gather necessary background information, identify and assess options and support decision-making to ensure appropriate and pro-active people solutions are adopted, whilst associated risks are managed/minimised.
- Participate in recruitment, selection and job evaluation processes, including providing advice to managers in the development of job descriptions/person specifications, short-listing and interviewing. This activity includes actively contributing to organisation structure and job design, assessing and determining appropriate role grading and involvement in regrading procedures, with a focus on ensuring the integrity of the University's grading structure and that transparency can be demonstrated and equal pay principles satisfied.
- Support the Head of POD in leading, motivating, developing and empowering the US POD team, ensuring behaviours and attitudes reflect University values. In doing so promote a continuous improvement approach, ensuring that the team applies appropriate professional standards and meets its commitment to providing a strategic, business focussed professional service which delivers positive organisational outcomes.
- Take a lead role in relation to the design and development of internal work systems and processes in order to continuously improve the effectiveness of service delivery within the US POD team. Work with administrative colleagues to ensure that all POD transactional activity complies with University wide and local policy and procedures and that effective management controls are in place in relation to business critical activities. Assume line management responsibility as required for professional or administrative team colleagues.
- Take a lead role in supporting organisational change and other change initiatives and projects across US business areas, including restructuring, improving business efficiency and supporting the resolution of complex case work, including achieving mutually agreed exits where appropriate and/or mitigating potential risks to the University.
- Advise Directors, Heads of Service, other managers and staff on the University's Performance and Development Review Policy, co-ordinating relevant procedures, the analysis, collation and communication of outcomes and other follow up actions.
- Working with the Corporate POD Systems team take a lead role in extracting, manipulating and analysing HR data from Core/Qlickview to provide a suite of people and management reports for various University Services purposes including, compliance, workforce planning, talent management, sickness absence management and central reporting requirements. Work closely as required with other Corporate POD functions within the University's devolved model to ensure the provision of a seamless service to customers.
- Support the Head of POD in maintaining and promoting productive TU consultation and good employee relations which ensures effective dialogue, engagement and co-operation in relation to organisational change initiatives and the development of POD policy and procedure.
- Maintain personal and professional knowledge through CPD, keeping up to date with employment law and University POD policy and procedures. Provide professional support by alerting colleagues to, and preparing paper