HR Business Partner
| Posting date: | 09 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50,000 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Depending on qualifications and expertise. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Watford, Hertfordshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | West Herts College |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 3247W |
Summary
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to join our HR team and play a key role in delivering a comprehensive, high-quality HR service across the College. Working closely with managers, senior leaders, and colleagues at all levels, you will ensure HR practices align with the College’s strategic objectives and support an outstanding employee and learner experience.
This is a varied and influential role, combining operational HR delivery with strategic project work and manager development.
Key Responsibilities
As HR Business Partner, you will:
- Manage a dedicated caseload of departments, advising managers across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, probation, contractual changes, employee relations, and leavers.
- Prepare accurate and timely employee correspondence, including change letters, non-standard leaver letters, family leave documentation, and payroll-related inputs.
- Support and advise the HR Administrative team on recruitment processes, including right to work checks, DBS clearance, and pre-employment checks.
- Deliver a proactive and innovative recruitment service, including liaising with recruitment agencies to secure hard-to-fill roles efficiently and minimise impact on the learner experience.
- Support organisational change initiatives such as restructures, redundancies, and TUPE processes, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice.
- Guide and support managers and directors through complex HR matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, and performance management processes.
- Lead on strategic HR projects, ensuring actions are delivered on time and that relevant staff are trained and supported on new or revised processes.
- Upskill and support managers through HR training, coaching, and acting as a trusted point of contact for HR-related advice.
- Work collaboratively with the HR team to review and develop HR policies, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and alignment with business needs.
- Support HR audits and inspections by producing reports, collating documentation, and providing evidence as required.
About You
You will be:
- An experienced HR professional with strong knowledge of UK employment legislation.
- Confident in advising and influencing managers at all levels, including senior leaders.
- Experienced in employee relations, change management, and recruitment within a complex organisation.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- A strong communicator, able to deliver training and guidance clearly and effectively.
- Proactive, solutions-focused, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Level 5 CIPD qualified (or working towards) or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
- Experience within the education or public sector is desirable but not essential.
The closing date for applications will be Sunday 22nd February 2026.
You’ll have the full support of a dynamic team and opportunities to bring your ideas to the role. Training and development are at the heart of everything we do so you’ll be encouraged to upskill.
You can access a wide range of discounts and benefits including a cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, pension, generous holiday scheme, time off at Christmas and early finishes on a Friday.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact a member of the Human Resources team who will be happy to help. WHC Group is positive about disabled people. If you need help applying for a role, please contact us.
We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to join our HR team and play a key role in delivering a comprehensive, high-quality HR service across the College. Working closely with managers, senior leaders, and colleagues at all levels, you will ensure HR practices align with the College’s strategic objectives and support an outstanding employee and learner experience.
This is a varied and influential role, combining operational HR delivery with strategic project work and manager development.
Key Responsibilities
As HR Business Partner, you will:
- Manage a dedicated caseload of departments, advising managers across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, probation, contractual changes, employee relations, and leavers.
- Prepare accurate and timely employee correspondence, including change letters, non-standard leaver letters, family leave documentation, and payroll-related inputs.
- Support and advise the HR Administrative team on recruitment processes, including right to work checks, DBS clearance, and pre-employment checks.
- Deliver a proactive and innovative recruitment service, including liaising with recruitment agencies to secure hard-to-fill roles efficiently and minimise impact on the learner experience.
- Support organisational change initiatives such as restructures, redundancies, and TUPE processes, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice.
- Guide and support managers and directors through complex HR matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, and performance management processes.
- Lead on strategic HR projects, ensuring actions are delivered on time and that relevant staff are trained and supported on new or revised processes.
- Upskill and support managers through HR training, coaching, and acting as a trusted point of contact for HR-related advice.
- Work collaboratively with the HR team to review and develop HR policies, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and alignment with business needs.
- Support HR audits and inspections by producing reports, collating documentation, and providing evidence as required.
About You
You will be:
- An experienced HR professional with strong knowledge of UK employment legislation.
- Confident in advising and influencing managers at all levels, including senior leaders.
- Experienced in employee relations, change management, and recruitment within a complex organisation.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- A strong communicator, able to deliver training and guidance clearly and effectively.
- Proactive, solutions-focused, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Level 5 CIPD qualified (or working towards) or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
- Experience within the education or public sector is desirable but not essential.
The closing date for applications will be Sunday 22nd February 2026.
You’ll have the full support of a dynamic team and opportunities to bring your ideas to the role. Training and development are at the heart of everything we do so you’ll be encouraged to upskill.
You can access a wide range of discounts and benefits including a cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, pension, generous holiday scheme, time off at Christmas and early finishes on a Friday.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact a member of the Human Resources team who will be happy to help. WHC Group is positive about disabled people. If you need help applying for a role, please contact us.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.