UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Hiring for HR Workstream Manager at Swindon Full Time

Contract: FTC till June 2024

Location: Polaris House, Swindon

Closing: 20th February 2022

The SHARP programme is looking for an HR Workstream Managers (Subject Matter Experts) to join the HR Workstream on a secondment or fixed term basis until June 2024. You will bring with you previous knowledge and understanding of UKRI and/or UKSBS, its processes, its policies and its systems. The programme will be looking to align your specialist area within the workstream enabling your experience to shape and advise the future system and processes. An enthusiastic drive for improvement and creative problem solving, as well as ambition to deliver right first time, will be a strong advantage in this role.

Purpose:
The Workstream Manager will be a subject matter expert within HR and have an understanding of the inner workings of specialised functions and operational difficulties that employees face within UKRI and its Councils and/or UKSBS. As well as supporting the SHARP HR Workstream Leads on delivering and running clear programme objectives, work closely with the business to document, develop and identify HR processes, understanding all interactions across these activities and champion the adoption of a new system.

Key Deliverable:
As an ambassador for the SHARP Programme, this role will be pivotal in; facilitating business change, driving process harmonisation, solving problems in the interest of both UKRI and the programme, answering queries/alleviating fears, and facilitating workshops and training within the HR functional areas.

Key Activities:
Work with HR business and programme colleagues across all UKRI organisations in the development of standard methodology HR procedures and supporting HR process harmonisation.

Build and maintain strong relationships across the HR community through effective engagement.

Provide specialist advice in developing new ways of working to facilitate process harmonisation and standardisation of processes.

Working with Workstream Leads, Business Analysts, Business Process Owners, the Business Change Manager and 3rd party Suppliers/Partners to identify gaps and fully document business processes and requirements.

Coordinate and facilitate/lead a range of activities which will involve information gathering, convening workshops, and collaborating closely with a wide range of HR collaborators, including documenting outputs of these activities.

Identifying difficulties that employees face in their daily HR operations.

Be a catalyst to the programme Blueprint Design documentation (mapping and documenting end to end “As-IS” processes and defining “To-Be” design principles and high-level processes).

Support cross-programme activities e.g., data migration and its associated activities, and business change.

Leading large groups of users to craft, showcase and implement the solution, with its associated business process harmonisation and people change.

Facilitating change management within HR and answering queries/alleviating fears.

Identifying potential threats and hurdles, advising their Workstream Lead, Functional Delivery Lead and/or the Business Change Manager in a timely manner

Contribute to the successful implementation of SHARP within HR

Provide local expertise and support post release to support local users and embed standard methodology locally.

Adopt a continuous improvement approach in all activity.

Attributes:
Should be positive about bringing about change to HR

Attention to detail with the ability to understand impact along a chain reaction

A logical, solution focused problem solver

Ability to listen and convert feedback into actions

Delivery and outcome focused

Great teammate, able to work cohesively to build a variety of in programme and out of programme relationships

Good interpersonal skills

Able to develop and handle a network of collaborators

Have an influential personality to be able to build bridges across all parts of UKRI and its Councils.

Should be a problem solver, not only looking after the interests of SHARP and UKRI, but also the users in their areas

Be able to articulate the concerns and grievances raised by users in response to changes in processes and the system

Should understand how the change will impact HR, and how to introduce the change so that it will be received in the most positive way

Be a good mentor with strong communication skills.

Selection Criteria

Essential:
Expertise and experience within one or more of the HR specialisms.

Must be highly specialized with hands-on deep business knowledge in particular areas and know them like the back of their hand

Must have practical experience of the processes in their areas, and how they work at a detailed and system level within UKRI and its Councils

Should be aware of the realities and the environment in which users perform their daily operations and understand the specific problems and inefficiencies in their areas

Detailed understanding of HR processes across UKRI and/or UK SBS processes

Ability to lead sophisticated meetings and collate evidence

Understanding of the use/management of HR data

Understanding of the employee lifecycle (from onboarding to leaving work)

Oracle/Workday or other HR system experience

Experience of participation in previous change

Working with HR partners

Working closely and collaborating as part of a team.

Desirable:
Experience of working & delivering within a complex project or programme environment.

Post implementation:
You will be supported to find alternative roles through the UKRI redeployment process. Our ambition is that they will return to the business benefiting from the knowledge they received from the IP, and that they will work with their Business Process Owner and Subject Matter Experts to drive the adoption of the new processes across their functional areas.

Reporting to:
Senior Workstream Lead – HR.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.