E+ People Business Partner

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire. The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+. In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 billion to UK organisations. Pay Band: SMP Salary: £55,699 gross per annum plus £3,300 per annum London Market Allowance for those in the London area only. Contract Duration: 12 months Fixed Term Contract Location: Any British Council UK office Right to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications. Closing Date: Applications will close on 4 August at 22:59 UK Time We are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds. Role Purpose: The Erasmus+ People Business Partner / Head of Human Resources will lead the design and delivery of the Erasmus+ people strategy, partnering with senior leaders to build, embed, and support a workforce of 150+ employees. You will be working as part of the Erasmus+ Leadership Team and will collaborate across the People Function including Talent Acquisition, Reward, People Advisory, and Talent, Learning & Performance to deliver workforce plans, organisational change, and people initiatives that enable successful programme delivery. Main Responsibilities: * * Leading the delivery of the People strategy for the Erasmus+ Programme in partnership with senior leaders. * Partnering with the Erasmus+ Leadership Team to design and implement workforce and organisational change plans. * Driving the successful delivery of people initiatives that support programme objectives and client requirements. * Collaborating with specialist People teams, including Talent Acquisition, Reward, Advisory, and Learning & Development, to deliver integrated solutions. * Coaching and enabling leaders to deliver workforce plans and embed new ways of working. * Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders to influence decision-making and achieve business outcomes. * Managing the implementation of workforce plans, ensuring delivery against agreed timelines and objectives. * Identifying and mitigating people-related risks to support successful programme delivery. * Using people data and insights to inform workforce planning and strategic decision-making. * Championing organisational development and talent strategies to build and embed a high-performing workforce. Role Specific Knowledge & Experience: Essential * * Experience operating at Senior People Business Partner / Head of HR level in a complex organisation. * Proven experience developing and delivering workforce strategies aligned to business outcomes. * Experience leading People delivery for large-scale transformation, mobilisation, or workforce growth (100+ FTE). * Strong track record of influencing senior leaders and external stakeholders. * Experience acting as a trusted adviser to Director-level stakeholders. * Experience building leadership capability and team effectiveness in evolving organisations. * Strong internal consulting and problem-solving experience with senior management. Desirable * * Experience of strategic business and workforce planning * Strategic People business partnering experience * Experience within a global organisation * Experience in government, public sector or grant-funded environments * Experience working across UK nations or devolved governance contexts * Experience of transition or TUPE-like scenarios Specific Requirements * * University degree or equivalent professional experience. * CIPD or equivalent OD / Change qualification (desirable) British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview. #LI-Hybrid A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities. Safeguarding Statement The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children. If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org