JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior HR Business Partner

Job Title Senior HR Business Partner

Job Family/Specialism Human Resources
Grade G11
BBC Division BBC People
Reports to HR Director, F&O, S&D, Radio
Account/Budget Responsibility (£) Budget dependent
People Manager Responsibility (Y/N) N
Number of Direct Reports 0
Number of Indirect Reports 0
Locations and Usual Base London

About the BBC

Our aim is simple - to enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain by
being the most creative organisation in the world. But we don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how
we do it.

Working here means you’ll be part of something genuinely special. We’re different from other broadcasters.
We’re funded by the licence fee and guided by a unique set of principles and values. People know us and are
passionate about what we do. You’ll also be involved in things that are enjoyed by millions.

About the Division

Working in HR at the BBC is challenging, demanding and highly rewarding. In such a dynamic environment we
pride ourselves on being central to the success of the BBC’s mission to be the most creative organisation in the
world.

Size and Scope of the role

The Senior HR Business Partner (SHRBP) is an internal consultant providing an enabling business support role.
The role may be Specialist or Generalist in nature. Deputising for the Divisional HR Director when required the
Senior HRBP is a trusted partner and will be representative on any governance/leadership boards in the area
they partner with, working on medium to longer term objectives.

The Senior HRBP will take a lead role on project delivery as well as coaching and mentoring HR Business
Partners ensuring consistently high standards of HR service delivery.

Generalist Senior HRBPs are typically based in a Division providing generalist HR expertise to their client group
and are at an approximate ratio of 1:500-750 employees. They own the client relationship and provide the ‘voice
of the customer’ back to the respective Specialist teams.

Specialist HRBPs are based within the Birmingham Shared Service or Specialist Teams and are a central lead
on an area of specialist expertise pan-BBC, as well as an interface to a designated divisional client group.
See Role specific accountabilities for further information.

Purpose of the role

 [In Divisions] Responsible for the relationship between HR & the business; Own the client relationship;
 Deputise for Divisional HR Director where required, and lead HR representation on local business
governing boards;
 Deputise for Specialist Team HR Director where required, and lead HR representation pan-BBC
 Responsible for leading the professional area; bringing evidence-based practice into the organisation
and addressing the people challenges for their area of expertise;
 Provide coaching and mentoring to HR Business Partners ensuring consistently high standards of HR
service delivery;
 Support organisation effectiveness by developing and implementing solutions aligned to strategy;
 Lead the HR vision, including role modelling great personal and team leadership and taking an active
role in ensuring the HR Operating Model is embedded successfully.

Key Accountabilities
1) Contribute to, and where accountable define policies and processes that support the BBC and Divisional
/People strategy and objectives.

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JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior HR Business Partner
2) Use and understand BBC People tools and policies, engaging with Divisional clients effectively to ensure
their use across the organisation.
3) Drive consistency of approach across the BBC in attracting, managing and developing talent to support
current and future organisational needs.
4) Work closely with all BBC People colleagues to ensure that tools and policies are aligned, enhance
employee engagement and ultimately improve performance.
5) Use data and analytics to measure the effectiveness of tools and policies and understand the landscape
for further improvement.
6) Provide expert input across a range of HR issues (generalist / specific expertise); Design and deliver high
impact solutions that meet the needs of the business.
7) Coach and build the capability of senior managers to anticipate and pre-empt organisational issues.
8) Participate in relevant projects, leading and championing as appropriate (divisional and/or pan-BBC) the
BBC’s reputation as a world class organisation and employer of choice.
9) Keep up to date with external trends and best practice in the areas of expertise and HR more broadly.
10) Continuously drive improvements in tools and policies through external market trends, insight and
internal best practice.
11) Proactively share best practice, intelligence and potential pan-BBC activities within HR function.
12) Build relationships and form alliances with external counterparts, communities of practice and
stakeholders to scan for innovations and opportunities to form partnerships.
13) Understand and anticipate the need for change, diagnose the underlying issues and build the case for
change with stakeholders. Build frameworks to plan and manage the continuous process of change
including dependencies, risk, potential scenarios ad options to mitigate.
14) Be an ambassador for the function and represent the BBC HR internally and externally (as appropriate).

Key Relationships
External: Internal:
 Best practice organisations  HR Service Centre
 Professional networks  HR Specialist Teams
 Suppliers  Divisional HR
 Business leaders / managers
 Academy

Person Specification
Qualifications:
 Desirable - MCIPD, or equivalent educational achievement (Level 7) plus experience.
Experience:
 Extensive relevant HR experience (generalist or specialist) gained in large complex organisation(s) with
multiple stakeholders (including matrix relationships);
 Extensive experience of operating in a business partner model, working with local managers to create
positive business outcomes;
 Knowledge of current thinking in Human Resources issues and trends and evidence of Continuing
Professional Development;
 Relevant experience gained of participating on business boards which govern strategy and decision
making;
 Is personally credible, can provide examples and referees at senior levels /multiple disciplines across
the organisation that validate HR expertise and how strategic aims have been met.

Skills and Competencies:

 Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the
decisions made;
 Communicates challenges and influences a variety of stakeholders effectively. Ability to present sound
and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade
people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change. Where necessary resolves highly-
charged, high-profile conflicts;
 Adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Is able to understand and
appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements
of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job
requirements. Builds strategic partnerships both within and outside of the BBC;

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JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior HR Business Partner
Person Specification
 Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, set-backs or
when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by
commitment and motivation;
 Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, explore and evaluate
them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships, and construct frameworks, for decision making
and problem-solving. Takes decisions at times when there are many unknowns, but procrastinating is
not an option. Transforms proposals/ideas into practical reality;
 Personally resilient. Is able to dig deep and deal with disputed issues and ethical dilemmas.
Represents and promotes the reputation of HR and takes accountability for the actions of the HR team;
 Understand the value drivers of the BBC and is commercially aware;
 Role models BBC values and behaviours.
ROLE Specific Accountabilities/Responsibilities
This role will sit within the Finance & Operations, Strategy & Digital, Radio HR Team.

Job Code: Definition: Content / Content Support / Support

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal
accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of
performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved

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Author (Name/Job Title): Date Compiled/ Reviewed: May 2015