HR Business Partner Recruitment & Reward (Maternity Cover)

Job title: HR Business Partner Recruitment & Reward (Maternity Cover) Job reference: REQ Date posted: 01/07/2026 Application closing date: 24/07/2026 Location: Stockton Riverside College, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6FB Salary: E27 £43,425.14 (Actual Salary £39,904.18) Package: Fixed Term Maternity Cover or Secondment Opportunity Contractual hours: 34 Basis, Full time Job category/type: Support

Shape the future of our workforce as an HR Business Partner (Recruitment & Reward) - Maternity Cover, ideal for a strategic HR professional ready to drive talent, data insight, create impactful change and ensure excellence in safer recruitment practices across the organisation.

About the Role

We're looking for an HR Business Partner, Recruitment & Reward to join our Human Resources team reporting to the Group Head of Human Resources. The role focuses on partnering with leaders and managers to attract, retain and develop talent, managing a high quality, compliant recruitment service, developing policy and reports, providing expert HR support, using data to inform workforce planning and leading projects, including the procurement and implementation of a new HR system for payroll and recruitment.

• Partner with leaders and managers to attract, retain and develop talent aligned to organisational needs.
• Lead a compliant recruitment service and line manage the HR coordination and administration team, focusing on candidate experience and safer recruitment practices, ensuring compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education and the Single Central Record.
• Develop policy and write reports for the Senior Leadership Team.
• Provide expert HR support across recruitment, reward, systems and the wider employee lifecycle.
• Use data and insight to inform workforce planning and drive retention.
• Lead HR projects and support organisational change to deliver strategic objectives, including a key 12 month project to procure and implement a new HR system for payroll and recruitment.

Who We're Looking For

We seek a proactive, resilient HR professional with experience in a sector with regulatory compliance and safeguarding requirements, such as education, social care or local government. The candidate should thrive in a fast paced setting, build strong relationships, bring a strategic, data driven approach to recruitment, reward and workforce planning, and demonstrate a strong commitment to compliance, safeguarding and inclusion.

We welcome interest from candidates seeking a secondment opportunity. Applications are encouraged from individuals working within organisations covered by the Local Government Modification Order, where a secondment arrangement can be supported and agreed by the employing organisation.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave ( days per annum plus up to 5 additional days for Christmas).
• Local Government Pension Scheme with 14.2% Employer Contribution.
• 2 wellbeing days per year.
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing programme, virtual GP access, employee assistance programme, discounts, free on site parking and more.
• Modern facilities, gym access (depending on location) and a pro hybrid working model.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

As a public sector organisation, we value diversity, fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respect and support. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Schedule

• Flexibility with working hours and days - to be discussed at interview.
• Core service hours are 8:30 4:30 (8:30 4:00pm on a Friday). Flexible options may be considered for the right candidate.

Disclosure and Barring Service

• Shortlisted candidates must provide details of all unspent convictions prior to the interview date.
• Successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB)

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are a Disability Confident, Committed employer.

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must provide valid proof of their right to work in the UK. Employment cannot commence or continue unless this is verified.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is offered only for a small number of specific roles, where it is appropriate and necessary to meet service needs. Sponsorship is not guaranteed or applicable to most roles.