Head of People Relations & Policy

Newcastle University is a great place to work with excellentbenefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 23 November 2025

In line with our Vision and Strategy Newcastle University is committed to placing people at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to foster a working environment where our colleagues can flourish underpinned by our guiding principles of working together visibly leading enabling freedom and opportunity to succeed and responding to current and future challenges.

We are seeking to appoint a Head of People Relations and Policy a critically important leadership role responsible for shaping aspirational forward-thinking and inclusive people policies and practices that attract develop reward and retain a highly motivated and diverse workforce.

You will join a thriving People Services community of around 95 colleagues who work collaboratively to drive cultural change support the Universitys strategic priorities and deliver exceptional lifecycle services to our academic and professional colleagues.

As the strategic lead for People Relations and Policy you will be instrumental in developing and enabling our employment framework that supports the Universitys ambitions. You will lead on the creation and implementation of people-centred policies build constructive relationships with our recognised trade unions and provide senior-level expertise and guidance across all aspects of employee relations and policy development.

At Newcastle University we are proud to be a place where colleagues feel supported valued and empowered to achieve their best. We offer a values-led culture dedicated to inclusion and belonging. There are real opportunities for professional and personal development during your career with us. Our vibrant campus is in the heart of Newcastle city centre and we offer a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave and pension schemes.

For a confidential conversation please reach out to Jackie Scott

Assessments & Interviews will be held on 10 & 11 December 2025

Internal colleagues interested in the role should apply through the internal application system below.

Please note external applications for this position should be made via Sullivan Brown HR Recruitment therefore external applicants please do not click on Apply Now below

External applicants - to find out more about this exciting opportunity and to apply please contact our retained Search Partners Sullivan Brown HR Recruitment. Melanie Bolton at Sullivan Brown HR Recruitment

The Role

In line with our Vision and Strategy the University has made clear its commitment to put people at the centre of all that it does. We aim to provide an environment that enables our people to flourish. Having people centred policies and procedures is important in providing an enabling employment infrastructure that promotes the Universitys guiding principles which are: working together; visibly leading; freedom and opportunity to succeed; responding to current and future challenges.

This role is a critically important role in shaping aspirational and innovative long-term people policies and practices that attract develop reward and retain a highly motivated and diverse workforce. We are a community of 95 People Services colleagues who strive for a positive and values led culture and working environment. We drive and influence change initiatives define talent and development opportunities and deliver quality lifecycle services that support our academic and professional services colleagues to succeed.

To be successful in this role you will have extensive experience of leading and developing initiatives that drive cultural change and will help deliver our vision and strategy You will excel at building strong working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels and through excellent partnering you will develop and maintain people centric policies and procedures that enable our people to support the delivery of our Vision and Strategy. You will lead on positive partnership working with our trade unions managing university level initiatives to support a strong people relations environment.

You will lead on new or refreshed policies and provide guidance and support to policy holders ensuring positive engagement. The role will report to a member of the People Services Leadership Team.

Key Accountabilities

Employee relations (ER):

• Lead our ER service by enabling the business partners to provide advice and intervention on complex ER matters and ensuring their knowledge is up to date with the latest developments in employee legislation and working practices.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with recognised trade unions to promote partnership working across the organisation leading on complex negotiations and disputes.
• To be responsible for the long-term agenda planning for Joint Negotiating Committee (JNCs) for all campus trade unions.
• Plan effectively for the future establishing policies to optimise and enable the Universitys success.
• Oversee case work to provide University level statistics and ensure consistency across all people policies identifying any emerging themes from case work.
• Liaise with University solicitors on matters relating to Tribunals other employment-related claims and legal claims.
• Development and refreshment of training and support for managers involved in investigating/hearing cases. Partner with leadership teams to support and guide them with the development of positive employee relations.
• Responsibility for the management of periods of Industrial Action ensuring a clear framework is available for senior leaders and managers.
• Key point of contact for Higher Education organisations such as UCEA in responding to requests for information and proactively connecting on behalf of the University

Horizon scanning

• Anticipate changing internal and external trends both in HE and the wider business community and lead change within your portfolio.
• Keep up to date with forthcoming changes and potential future developments in employment legislation identifying implications for people policy development or revision.
• Provide guidance and support on current policy approaches both in the HEI sector and beyond to ensure new and emerging approaches are utilised.

Policy Development and Implementation

• Partner with policy owners to create inclusive empowering policies that reflect University values and comply with employment legislation.
• Work with key stakeholders to develop communication and education strategies for the implementation of new or revised people policies.
• To manage the single table JNC for People Services policies.

Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted relationships across the University and be viewed as a trusted advisor.
• Provide expert guidance complex and high-risk ER matters.
• Support development and delivery of training for managers especially for those new to people management responsibilities.
• Establish senior-level relationships within HE and other professional networking groups across the Higher Education sector collaborating on key institutional challenges.

The Person

Knowledge Skills and Experience

• Proven experience of leading and delivering high quality ER activity
• Excellent demonstrable knowledge of current employment legislation and policy development
• Strategic thinker with operational agility
• Previous experience of working in a large complex unionised organisation.
• Established track record of effective and sustainable partnerships with trade unions.
• Significant demonstrable experience of advising on a broad range of complex employee relations issues including balancing legal compliance with business needs.

Attitude and behaviours

• Inclusive resilient and solution focused.
• High drive and initiative able to demonstrate professional resilience.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication and influencing/negotiating skills.
• Collaborative and proactive in driving change

Qualifications

• Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIP

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a gold Athena Swanaward in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 28771