HR Business Partner

Workforce & Organisational Development 37 hours per week Permanent Grade: 10

HR leadership that makes a difference

Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives on influencing strategic decision-making, leading organisational change and helping services achieve their ambitions?

At Rochdale Borough Council, we are looking for an outstanding HR Business Partner to join our Workforce & Organisational Development Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, partnering with senior leaders to shape workforce strategies, support transformational change and deliver high-quality people solutions that make a real difference to our borough and communities.

As a trusted adviser to senior managers and leadership teams, you will provide professional, commercially aware and solution-focused HR support across a varied portfolio of services. You will work closely with managers to ensure workforce plans align with organisational priorities, helping services to deliver excellent outcomes for residents whilst creating positive and inclusive workplaces.

About the Role

This is a highly visible and influential role where you will:

• Act as the lead HR contact for senior managers and leadership teams.
• Support major organisational change, workforce planning and service transformation programmes.
• Provide strategic and operational advice on complex employee relations issues.
• Lead or contribute to corporate HR projects and policy development.
• Coach and develop managers in managing workforce challenges confidently and effectively.
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions and stakeholders, supporting positive employee relations.
• Interpret employment legislation and emerging workforce trends, translating these into practical business solutions.
• Develop innovative approaches to workforce challenges that balance organisational needs with positive employee experiences.

About You

We are looking for a confident and credible HR professional who can influence at senior levels and deliver results through strong partnership working.

You will:

• Be CIPD qualified to Level 5 or above and hold current CIPD membership.
• Have significant HR experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrate experience of operating within a Business Partnering model.
• Have a successful track record of supporting organisational change and transformation.
• Possess excellent knowledge of employment law, equality legislation and HR best practice.
• Be capable of translating complex issues into practical, workable solutions.
• Have experience of developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Be comfortable presenting robust and persuasive recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Have experience of working within a unionised environment.
• Be an excellent communicator with strong coaching and stakeholder management skills.

Why Rochdale?

At Rochdale Borough Council, we're proud of our people and ambitious for our future. We are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to our communities.

Succeed at Rochdale

We offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement, increasing after 5 years service.
• Support for professional development and career progression.
• Workplace wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Professional membership reimbursement (where applicable).
• Lifestyle savings and employee discount schemes.
• A culture of learning, collaboration and innovation.
• The opportunity to work on high-profile, meaningful projects that directly impact services and communities.

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

Proud of the difference we make
Passionate about the diversity of our borough
Pioneering and Open in our approach

These values are at the heart of our recruitment process and how we work together every day.

Interested?

If you are looking for a strategic HR role where you can influence organisational direction, support transformational change and make a genuine difference across a large and diverse organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV together with a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role profile. A CV without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Please include reference to your qualifications that are specified in the role profile within your CV/supporting statement.

If you would like to have a chat about the role please contact Zoe Earnshaw the Strategic HR Lead via email Zoe.Earnshaw@Rochdale.Gov.UK

Interviews to be held on 8 September 2026.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a sponsorship for this role