We're looking for two People Business Partners to join our People Team.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys building strong relationships, solving problems, supporting managers and helping create great places to work. Whether you're already operating at Business Partner level or are an experienced People Adviser ready for your next step, we'd love to hear from you.
At Gateshead College, our people make the difference. We're committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace where colleagues feel valued, can develop and are encouraged to be their best.
About the Role
As a People Business Partner, you'll be at the heart of helping our teams be the best they can be. Working closely with managers and teams across the College, you'll provide expert advice, support and fresh thinking, helping to shape and improve the experience of our staff.
Whether you're guiding managers through complex employee relations matters, supporting organisational change or helping to shape and improve people practices, you'll build trusted relationships and deliver practical solutions that support our People Strategy and wider organisational goals.
We're looking for someone with broad generalist HR knowledge and experience, but you don't need to have worked in a Business Partner role before. What matters most is that you're proactive, solutions-focused, comfortable using technology and committed to making things happen. You'll have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, contribute to important organisational priorities and make a real difference to the people who work here. We'll support your development through coaching, development opportunities and exposure to a wide range of initiatives that will broaden your experience and help you grow.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead and deliver people-related projects that support the College's People Strategy and Operational Plan.
- Work in partnership with managers to provide expert advice, guidance and support on a broad range of people matters.
- Manage employee relations casework, offering clear, professional advice and support to managers.
- Support organisational change, workforce planning and recruitment activity.
- Use data and insight to inform decisions, identify opportunities for improvement and support positive outcomes.
- Build manager capability and confidence through coaching, support and constructive challenge.
- Contribute to the development of practical people solutions that support organisational priorities and enhance the way we support out staff.
What we’re looking for
We're interested in what you can bring, including:
- Recent generalist HR experience across a broad range of people activities.
- Experience of managing employee relations casework and supporting managers through complex people matters.
- Experience of delivering or contributing to successful people-related projects.
- Strong knowledge of employment law and its practical application.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to influence, advise and challenge professionally.
- Good judgement and a practical, solution-focused approach.
- Comfortable using technology, systems and digital tools to improve ways of working, support decision-making and deliver efficient people services.
- A commitment to inclusion, fairness and creating positive experiences for colleagues.
- CIPD Level 5 qualification (or above), or equivalent professional experience.
Experience of working with recognised Trade Unions would be beneficial but isn't essential. What's most important is your ability to build positive relationships, work collaboratively and approach challenges with professionalism and confidence.
Watch the video to hear from our Head of People, Lori.
About Gateshead College
At Gateshead College we’re famous for education with Employment Edge, industry inspired education that combines high quality learning with real world skills. This means giving our students the knowledge and skills to be successful in work and life and supporting them to be the best they can be.
This means putting everything we’ve got into making sure our students are the most employable and this is what makes our college such an exciting place to work.
From bringing industry expertise into the classroom and working hand in hand with businesses, to delivering the highest quality teaching and learning and supporting students to develop personally as well as professionally, we’re all about creating experiences that will set learners up for life
If you share our ambition, we’d love to hear from you.
In return we can offer a values-driven organisation and the chance to work with brilliant people who put students first. You’ll be listened to and will have opportunities to make an impact. We prioritise health and wellbeing and your work life balance will be respected.
Our inclusive culture means you’re valued for being yourself and diversity is celebrated, and our commitment to being a sustainable organisation means we always try to do business the right way to make our community better for everyone.
At Gateshead College we all have the opportunity to help our learners succeed and it’s this clear purpose and shared effort that makes us such a great place to work; we hope you think about joining.
Our Benefits:
- Generous holiday allowance of 33 days plus bank holidays
- Mental health and wellbeing support, with 24/7 access to an employee assistance programme and counselling services.
- Career average pension with the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Travel support including free on-site parking, discounted public transport scheme and cycle to work scheme.
- Retail and travel discounts.
Interviews will be held Wednesday 16th September 2026
