Business Partner – Organisational Development (Gr J)

Job Description

Job Category : Human Resources
Location : Royal Borough of Kingston
Hours Per Week : 28.80
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time :09:00
End Time :17:00
Salary: £346.36

Permanent role, based in Kingston and Sutton

Grade J

We are a shared service between Kingston and Sutton Councils providing HR and Organisational Development services to both Councils as well as a number of arm’s length companies and traded services to schools. These companies are all different – in size, their customer groups and their aims. HR & OD needs to ensure that it is able to deliver against all their organisational priorities through the use of a flexible service delivery model.

To operate in this model we will all be:

● Easy to do business with and responsive
● Commercially astute
● Flexible, creative problem solvers
● Professionals with collaborative and participative working styles
● Well trained, technically competent and knowledgeable in our fields
● Engaged in life long learning
● Advocates of a culture that fosters performance excellence, full participation and personal and organisational growth
● Accountable at individual, team, service and organisation level

As a service we will:

● Continually assess our effectiveness
● Review our practices to enable simplicity and timeliness
● Exploit digital technological opportunities
● Take a pragmatic approach
● Focus on the customer not the process
● Recognise that we are part of a wider system and operate as a key part of this

Role purpose

The Council is focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for its communities. To do this the Council needs managers who thrive in a networked organisation and who can provide strong operational leadership.

● Be focused on either Kingston or Sutton and will work across the directorates within that borough although there is an expectation you will support the other borough if priority demands it
● Take a lead responsibility for one or more Directorates of Kingston and Sutton Councils, as directed, acting as a strategic relationship manager and interface between HR/OD and the business.
● Identify the need for OD and/or HR interventions and to provide or commission advice, support and enhanced solutions, as appropriate.
● Provide challenge and support to the lead area, to actively contribute in achieving objectives within the service plan and those of the wider agenda.
● Lead on organisational development projects, both Directorate and Council wide, including identification of need through to design, development and implementation.
● Be an active member of the respective service area DMTs etc (where applicable). To actively participate in Directorate DMTs and groups e.g. Health and Safety group, Corporate Equality & Diversity group where required.

● All OD Business Partners will be flexible to work in any area of the OD Services as required by the needs of the service to ensure best use of resources.
● Responsibility for the overseeing of HR & OD objectives will be a requirement

Knowledge and Experience
Substantial HR & OD experience of working in a large and complex shared services environment
Demonstrate post qualifying experience of providing a range of HR and OD Services at strategic and operational levels
Experience of working within a commercial environment
An understanding of the strategic objectives of an organisation and how this relates to the OD function
Significant experience of advising and supporting all levels of management and staff on all disciplines relating to Organisational Development
Influencing, building and sustaining relationships in order to achieve results
Proven experience of delivering successful OD and Council wide projects and supporting organisational change
Experience of assisting and advising managers through change and service redesign with an understanding of the business and implications involved
Thorough knowledge of employment legislation and experience of interpreting this to support the business
Experience of benchmarking and analysis of information including data trends to make informed decisions and support investigations and the development of organisational policy
Experience of working in a highly unionised environment
Excellent working knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory guidance
Line management experience

Qualifications/Training
Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) or with the necessary criteria and prepared to apply for chartered membership
An OD qualification equivalent professional knowledge gained through experience of working as an OD Specialist or as a HR Generalist with an OD focus
Evidence of continuous professional development and keeping up to date with employment law and best practice across all sectors

Practical Skills
Skills and Personal Attributes
Good facilitation skills
Detailed knowledge and understanding of employment legislation and policies and procedures with the ability to translate this understanding into HR policy
Ability to build strong relationships
Commercial awareness
Design of OD and Learning and Development interventions
Ability to understand the meaning of diversity and promote equality
Exceptional analytical skills – ability to not only accurately analyse and interpret data but to identify trends and translate this to effectively provide advice and make decisions on all OD related issues
Strong verbal, written and reasoning skills including the ability to produce clear and concise documents, to present reports and brief/train stakeholders at all levels
Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills
A broad understanding of the Public Sector and the challenges faced by local authorities
Ability to work quickly, accurately and to tight deadlines, managing various casework and projects across a range of related subjects

Personal Qualities and Attributes
A knowledge of Equality, Inclusion & Diversity issues
Ability to anticipate and understand challenges and opportunities
The desire to drive change to support the transformation of the councils
Ability to understand, interpret and apply employment legislation for use in the councils
High level problem solving with the ability to balance risks and make decisions
Highly developed organisational skills with the ability to identify and manage workloads and deadlines including those whose output you may have responsibility for
Flexible and adaptable to work across the Directorates as required
High level customer service skills with a business solution focus
Excellent inter-personal skills and in particular the ability to negotiate and influence by expressing ideas and views effectively at all levels
Forward thinking, innovative and creative, prepared to consider different approaches; solution focused
Willing to be accountable – for own achievements and the delivery of objectives
IT literate in line with the requirements of the role and understanding of maximising digital technology to benefit organisations
Political sensitivity and awareness of local government and political issues