Job summary
HR Business Partner | Band 8A |Temporary until June 2026 Secondment or Bank Contract considered, where appropriate
Full-time or part-time; we are committed to flexible working arrangements that suit both you and the organisation
Priority will be given to internal candidates of NHS Devon & NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIoS)
Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, changing environment? Are you hands-on and solutions-focused, ensuring that projects and initiatives are delivered smoothly from start to finish? Do you have a track record of supporting managers with a wide range of HR matters? If so, we want you on our team!
Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) is currently embarking on a significant period of transformation as we move towards a clustering arrangement with NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIoS) ICB. This means we are aligning our structures, processes, and teams as part of a wider organisational change process, ensuring we are fit for the future and able to deliver the best possible care for our communities. It's a critical time for both organisations as we navigate this transition, making it an exciting and pivotal moment to join our team. This is more than just a structural change it's a rare opportunity to shape the future of how we work, and how we support our people.
Main duties of the job
About the role
As an HR Business Partner, you'll be stepping into organisational transformation. Success in this role means being a proactive and trusted partner to managers, someone who can confidently guide them through the complexities of employee relations, change management, and day-to-day HR challenges. You'll be hands-on and solutions-focused, ensuring that projects and initiatives are delivered smoothly from start to finish, while always upholding employment law and best practice. Your collaborative approach will help build strong working relationships across the organisation, supporting both leaders and teams as they navigate change. In return, we offer a genuinely flexible working environment, whether you're seeking full-time or part-time hours, we're committed to finding an arrangement that works for you and supports your work-life balance. If you're looking to make a meaningful impact at a crucial time, while balancing your own needs and priorities, this is the perfect opportunity to do just that. We also recognise that every HR professional brings their own unique strengths and expertise.
About us
About NHS Devon
As part of the Devon ICS, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board is responsible for the majority of county's NHS budget, and develops a plan to improve peoples health, deliver high-quality care and better value for money. The organisation is led by a diverse board, with an aim to improve peoples lives in Devon wherever they live, to reduce health inequalities and make sure we can deliver these services for the long term.
For more information, visit our website www.onedevon.org.uk
Eligibility to Work in the UK - Important Information NHS Devon does not currently hold a sponsorship license to support visa applications. We have been able to successfully meet our recruitment needs without the requirement for visa sponsorship. As such, we are only able to consider applications from candidates who already have the appropriate legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcome applications from all qualified individuals who meet this requirement. Thank you for your understanding.
Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll do
- Provide expert HR advice and support to managers on a range of issues, including employee relations, performance management, and change management.
- Support and guide managers through organisational change processes, ensuring compliance with employment law and NHS policies.
- Take ownership of projects, seeing them through from start to finish.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with teams and stakeholders across both Devon & Cornwall & IoS ICBs.
- Balance operational delivery with strategic thinking in a dynamic environment.
- Deliver tangible results while adapting quickly to changing priorities.
What were looking for
MCIPD qualified (or equivalent experience).
An experienced HR business partner at equivalent level.
Good knowledge of employment law and HR best practice, especially relating to employee relations and organisational change.
Proven ability to deliver in a fast-paced, complex environmentgetting things done efficiently and effectively.
Working in HR within the NHS or public sector highly desirable.
Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a collaborative approach.
Adaptable, proactive, and resilient.
Please see the attached Job description and person specification for full details of the role and responsibilities
How to apply
For an informal chat please contact Sam Tribble Associate Director of HR via samanthatribble@nhs.net or Marianna Borojevic-Gray, Head of HR via marianna.borojevic-gray@nhs.net To apply complete the NHS jobs application form, and indicate if you are interested in a secondment or bank contract, and your preferred working pattern/hours.
Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll do
- Provide expert HR advice and support to managers on a range of issues, including employee relations, performance management, and change management.
- Support and guide managers through organisational change processes, ensuring compliance with employment law and NHS policies.
- Take ownership of projects, seeing them through from start to finish.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with teams and stakeholders across both Devon & Cornwall & IoS ICBs.
- Balance operational delivery with strategic thinking in a dynamic environment.
- Deliver tangible results while adapting quickly to changing priorities.
What were looking for
MCIPD qualified (or equivalent experience).
An experienced HR business partner at equivalent level.
Good knowledge of employment law and HR best practice, especially relating to employee relations and organisational change.
Proven ability to deliver in a fast-paced, complex environmentgetting things done efficiently and effectively.
Working in HR within the NHS or public sector highly desirable.
Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a collaborative approach.
Adaptable, proactive, and resilient.
Please see the attached Job description and person specification for full details of the role and responsibilities
How to apply
For an informal chat please contact Sam Tribble Associate Director of HR via samanthatribble@nhs.net or Marianna Borojevic-Gray, Head of HR via marianna.borojevic-gray@nhs.net To apply complete the NHS jobs application form, and indicate if you are interested in a secondment or bank contract, and your preferred working pattern/hours.
Person Specification
Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters' level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
- Chartered Member of CIPD (MCIPD) or equivalent experience.
- Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through a post graduate qualification or equivalent experience or training.
- Highly developed HR knowledge gained through theoretical learning and extensive HR generalist experience.
- Experience of and ability to manage and develop workforce data, systems, HR metrics, data analysis and reporting.
- Experience of working with performance metrics to guide and inform strategy.
- Experience of managing change management in a complex environment.
- Demonstrable generalist HR experience with experience of competence across the range of HR functions providing specialist HR advice to services and managers.
- An understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
- Extensive knowledge of Agenda for Change, NHS Terms & Conditions Handbook.
- Knowledge and experience of using HR information systems including electronic staff records.
- Proven ability to effectively manage a range of situations that may evoke a strong emotional reaction.
- Current excellent knowledge of employment legislation, case law and good HR practice.
- Ability to foster powerful and productive working relationships internally and externally.
- Ability to work with unpredictable situations and under pressure and to tight deadlines with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to oversee and be responsible for a budget for a department and/or service.
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
- Significant experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.
- Experience of managing risks and reporting.
- Experience of developing briefing papers and correspondence at SLT or chief officer level.
- Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Demonstrated experience in a Healthcare environment.
- Understanding of the public sector.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required, to aid decision making.
- Skilled communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
- Evidence of success in efficient and effective project and programme management.
- Skills for communication on complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence where there may be barriers to understanding.
- Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
Analytical Skills
Essential
- Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy.
- Experience of researching best practice (globally, private and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve improved performance (advising on policy implementation, where applicable).
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.
- Numerate and able to understand complex issues combined with deep analytical skills.
Planning Skills
Essential
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
- Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and managing successful projects.
Management Skills
Essential
- Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.
- Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
Autonomy / Freedom to Act
Essential
- Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to relevant manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and/or compliance to policies.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
Equality & Diversity
Essential
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Standard keyboard skills, with the ability to learn/use a range of software.
Other
Essential
- Operate effectively in a demanding environment.
- Strong adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.
- An ability to develop and maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Professional calm and efficient manner.
- Effective organiser, influencer and networker.
- Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.
Person Specification
Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters' level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
- Chartered Member of CIPD (MCIPD) or equivalent experience.
- Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through a post graduate qualification or equivalent experience or training.
- Highly developed HR knowledge gained through theoretical learning and extensive HR generalist experience.
- Experience of and ability to manage and develop workforce data, systems, HR metrics, data analysis and reporting.
- Experience of working with performance metrics to guide and inform strategy.
- Experience of managing change management in a complex environment.
- Demonstrable generalist HR experience with experience of competence across the range of HR functions providing specialist HR advice to services and managers.
- An understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
- Extensive knowledge of Agenda for Change, NHS Terms & Conditions Handbook.
- Knowledge and experience of using HR information systems including electronic staff records.
- Proven ability to effectively manage a range of situations that may evoke a strong emotional reaction.
- Current excellent knowledge of employment legislation, case law and good HR practice.
- Ability to foster powerful and productive working relationships internally and externally.
- Ability to work with unpredictable situations and under pressure and to tight deadlines with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to oversee and be responsible for a budget for a department and/or service.
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
- Significant experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.
- Experience of managing risks and reporting.
- Experience of developing briefing papers and correspondence at SLT or chief officer level.
- Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Demonstrated experience in a Healthcare environment.
- Understanding of the public sector.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Must be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required, to aid decision making.
- Skilled communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
- Evidence of success in efficient and effective project and programme management.
- Skills for communication on complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence where there may be barriers to understanding.
- Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
Analytical Skills
Essential
- Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy.
- Experience of researching best practice (globally, private and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve improved performance (advising on policy implementation, where applicable).
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.
- Numerate and able to understand complex issues combined with deep analytical skills.
Planning Skills
Essential
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
- Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and managing successful projects.
Management Skills
Essential
- Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.
- Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
Autonomy / Freedom to Act
Essential
- Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to relevant manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and/or compliance to policies.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
Equality & Diversity
Essential
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Standard keyboard skills, with the ability to learn/use a range of software.
Other
Essential
- Operate effectively in a demanding environment.
- Strong adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
- Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.
- An ability to develop and maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Professional calm and efficient manner.
- Effective organiser, influencer and networker.
- Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
