Buckinghamshire New University
People Operations Advisor
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Full Time (37 hrs per week) – Permanent – High Wycombe
Salary - £29,588
Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people, and local community. That’s why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed.
Our University’s DRIVE values are at the heart of all that we do. We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary, and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission.
You will be a member of the People Operations Team within the overall people function. You will play a key role in delivering an effective, responsive HR service to the University. You’ll be a trusted adviser to managers and colleagues, offering clear guidance on HR policies, terms and conditions, and all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
You will practice an inclusive approach and support building an inclusive university community where people can be themselves.
What we offer:
- Generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)
- Hybrid working (dependent on business needs)
- Training & development support opportunities
- Contributory pension scheme
- Discounted gym membership for our on-site gym
- A range of staff discounts with major retailers
Please click here to see our wide range of benefits available for employees. Please click here for our behavioural based interview question bank. Please click here to view our employee handbook.
If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University’s values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For further information about this role, please contact Sharon.egan@bnu.ac.uk
All applications are to be made in full and online. If you’re considering using AI to support your application, we encourage you to question the value it adds. The use of AI tools sometimes erodes authenticity and prevents us from being able to assess the real you. We strongly recommend you prepare your application using your own skills and knowledge and that AI is only used for the purpose of review.
BNU is proud to have a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace and aim to continue building an environment where everyone thrives and can be themselves. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in BNU’s workforce. These include people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles.
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Please let us know if you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that would enable you to perform to the best of your abilities in your role. Please reach out to the People team at people@bnu.ac.uk if you have any specific needs or if you would like more information on how we can support you.
We ensure that our interview/shortlisting Chairs complete the relevant e-learning and/or inclusive recruitment training.
Closing Date: 24 July 2026
Interview Date: w/c 3 August 2026
If you are invited to interview for this role, you will need to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK and if on a Visa, current visa and status. Due to the salary for this post, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship to the successful candidate.
BNU is a Disability Confident employer and as such you will be given the opportunity to declare a disability as part of the application process.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: People Operations Advisor
Faculty/Directorate: People
Grade: E
Location: High Wycombe
Hours: 37
Responsible to: Head of People Operations
Job Purpose: To support the People Operations team in delivering an effective and efficient HR service to the University and its designated business areas. This includes providing managers and staff with advice and guidance on a wide range of HR matters across the employee lifecycle, such as terms and conditions of employment and the appropriate application of HR policies and procedures.
Main duties & responsibilities of the role:
- Act as first point of contact for the People Business Partner dealing with personal, telephone, and written enquiries from employees and customers, both internal and external to the University.
- Be responsible for the administration of all employee changes, including changes of hours, upgrades, promotions, and temporary allowances, ensuring that the HR system is updated accordingly, and payroll is informed promptly.
- Ensure transactional HR processes are carried out in a timely manner (including overseeing probation checks, absence reviews, pension administration, visa expiry dates, and ending fixed term contracts), ensuring that the HR system is updated accordingly, and payroll is informed.
- Ensure the data as a result of changes, leavers, and new starters is kept up-to-date and accurate on Business Connect, and exit interviews are carried out for off-boarding employees.
- Monitor and action regular reports from Business Connect (HR System) as appropriate, such as monthly sickness absence reports, duration of fixed-term contract, and probation reports.
- Support, advise, and guide managers on all aspects of resourcing (including advertising, shortlisting, arranging interviews, participating in interviews, making offers, and onboarding) for both permanent and temporary employees, and to ensure that all recruitment matters are handled effectively and efficiently.
- Undertake and lead on the necessary processes for the appointment of new starters, including obtaining pre-employment checks or other clearances (e.g., DBS checks), issuing contracts, and other related documentation.
- Be proactive and monitor sickness absence for all employees, keeping the People Business Partner informed of absence problems and providing appropriate administrative support for ill-health referrals, liaising with the University Occupational Health provider as appropriate.
- Manage maternity, paternity, and parental leave cases, employee queries, issuing letters, and supporting line managers and employees.
- Assist in the handling of employee grievance and disciplinary cases and other case work as required.
- Organise, service, and act as a note-taker where required in employee meetings and make the necessary arrangements for room bookings.
- With guidance, manage any ER case work that is allocated.
- Provide support for and take the lead on some HR projects when required.
- Maintain and audit employee files and records in electronic and paper format.
- Support the people aspects of change programmes across the University.
- Participate in the development of the University’s HR service, to undertake continuous personal and professional development of the University’s HR service and to undertake continuous improvement.
- Ensure the HR/Recruitment trackers are maintained and kept up to date.
- Administration of HR related suppliers in Business Connect, including raising of purchase orders and invoice management.
- Run basic pre-prepared reports from Business Connect and produce statistics when requested by the People Business Partners.
- Maintain knowledge of current employment legislation to ensure the process is robust, consistent, and in line with current legislation.
- Provide support and cover to other People Operations Advisors.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to partner and raise the profile of the People team, meeting regularly with managers.
- Volunteer to support the Colleges and PSE areas in direct student activities such as graduation and enrolment duties where possible.
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