Temporary Head of HR Business Partnering (Grade M1)

Job Description

Temporary Head of HR Business Partnering (Grade M1)

Application Deadline: 8 March 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Employment Type: Fixed Term – Full Time

Location: Edinburgh – Hybrid

Compensation: Grade M1 £64,659 – £76,260. Civil Service Pension. Flexible Working Hours. Hybrid Working.

Description

To lead the design, and implementation and ongoing delivery of a modern HR business partnering and advisory model and support organisational change and transformation.

We expect that this role will end in February 2027.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Deputy Director, lead the design, implementation and ongoing delivery of a modern HR business partnering and advisory model aligned to SFC’s corporate strategy, values and objectives.
• Lead the business partnering team to provide a service of trusted support to Directors, senior leaders and managers: offering expert and evidence-based advice support and guidance on all aspects of people management, organisational development, performance and workforce planning.
• Lead the business partnering team to provide professional advice as required on employee relations matters, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment, taking account of advice and support from other HR team leads where appropriate, and ensuring consistency with SFC’s established policies and legal obligations.
• Partner with Directors and their leadership teams to drive and support systemic organisational change initiatives, in collaboration with colleagues from within the People & Transformation team and the wider Corporate Services directorate. This includes collaborating to identify talent needs, develop succession plans, and implement effective recruitment practice, workforce planning, retention, and development approaches within their business areas.
• Build effective working relationships across the organisation, representing SFC’s interests and values in all interactions.
• Role model an adaptable approach to prioritisation to enable delivery, support individuals and teams to find solutions in the context of shifting needs and demands.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:

Essential

• Proven track record of effective delivery in a senior HR business partner role, ideally within the public sector or an organisation going through significant change.
• Demonstrable track record of designing and implementing HR business partnering models.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of employment law, HR best practice, and current trends in people management.
• Experience of leading teams in the context of organisational change with a proactive, solutions oriented and innovative approach. Partnering and seeking the involvement of others and maintaining effective communications.
• Commitment to role model the organisation’s values and foster an environment which supports inclusion and belonging. Working cohesively and collaboratively with senior leaders and their teams to do the same.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to take an analytical approach, with experience in using data and management information to inform decisions and measure success.
• Relevant professional body qualification (e.g. Chartered membership of CIPD) or equivalent relevant experience.

Terms and Benefits

• Normal full time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi time system is in operation.
• Annual leave entitlement of 30 days pro rata, plus public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro rata.
• A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home anywhere in the UK for some of the time while also maintaining regular in person contact with colleagues.
• Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.
• Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website.
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.
• We provide support to SFC employees with Volunteering Days.
• Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first come basis.
• Although most salaried roles are advertised as full time positions (35 hours a week), we are happy to discuss part time or compressed hours to suit a candidates circumstances. We also operate a flexible working scheme to work around a candidate’s other commitments such as caring responsibilities. We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions. If you are interested in applying on a secondment basis and this option is not explicitly mentioned in the job advert, please contact for further information.
• This role has been identified and will be funded by The Scottish Government to support the smooth transition of the Tertiary Education and Training (TET) Bill. This will enable SFC to continue delivering key priorities including the smooth transfer of the funding, development and delivery of national training programmes, including apprenticeships, from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).