Main Purpose of the Job

The Norwich BioScience Institutes Partnership (NBIP) have an exciting opportunity for a Head of HR to join their busy Human Resources department.

The Head of HR will lead the HR function and provide strategic HR advice, guidance and leadership to the Earlham Institute (EI), John Innes Centre (JIC), and Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), as well as the shared services provided by the NBI Partnership (NBIP).

Working with the senior leadership teams you will be responsible for driving the strategic people agenda and delivering a professional HR function which supports NBI’s values and our inclusive and collaborative environment.

Key Relationships

Key relationships will be with the Institute Directors, Chief Operating Officers, senior management teams, scientists, heads of support services or departments and Group Leaders.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

The Head of HR takes the lead for decision-making on HR issues and is the focus of HR professionalism within the Operations management team.

The post holder is responsible for providing a customer focused HR service to, EI, JIC, QIB and NBIP.  The general objectives are as follows:

To ensure all four customers are provided with an efficient, cost effective HR service
• Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all the main HR & Training processes in order to measure effectiveness and quality of service delivery.
• Benchmark key HR metrics against other BBSRC establishments and learn from best practice elsewhere in order to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure that the HR team has an annual improvement plan to improve effectiveness and service delivery.
• Develop, implement and maintain appropriate HR systems, processes, and policies that meet the needs of the organisations the HR team supports, ensuring compliance with employment law, HMRC and UKVI regulatory requirements, and consistent and fair implementation.
• Lead the annual pay reviews across NBIs, developing, agreeing and implementing proposals, and ensuring fair and equitable treatment.
• Work with Institutes and NBIP on staff surveys and consultation forums, listening and interpreting staff feedback for useful discussion and development of HR policies and procedures.

To work with the Institutes’ senior management and the NBIP coordination committee to develop HR Strategies and ensure an alignment of HR activities and work streams with mission and strategy
• Support Institutes’ and NBIP senior management in the development of their organisations, identifying opportunities, foreseeing and resolving issues, and assisting with sensitive people matters that may arise.
• Establish an HR strategy for each customer base in conjunction with their senior managers.
• Agree an annual HR plan with each customer in order to deliver on the overall HR strategy.
• Contribute to the Institute’s Research Culture Visions, strategy, plans or accreditation programmes. Assisting with annual reporting as needed.
• Work proactively with the Institutes on their Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Strategy and Action plans.
• Provide periodic progress reports to each customer on performance against the annual HR plan.
• Provide support and advice to Trustee Directors, individually, and through Board and committee meetings (e.g. JIC Governing Council, EI, NBIP and QIB Boards, Remuneration and Nominations Committees).
• Support the NBI in attracting, developing, and retaining highly talented staff, and maintain an attractive employee proposition.
• Provide input and advice on a range of issues to contribute to organisational d

To provide leadership to the HR team to create and maintain a culture of continuous improvement and customer orientation within the function
• Establish a team communication structure to ensure all team members understand and are committed to delivering against the annual HR plan and the functional KPIs.
• Establish and maintain a process for understanding the needs of internal customers, together with feedback loops and measures of customer satisfaction.
• Map and measure all key HR transactional processes and develop appropriate improvement plans for these processes.
• Through personal development and training plans ensure that the skills, competency and motivation of the HR team are maintained at a high level.
• Through membership of the NBI Coordination Committee support the development of efficient and effective Partnership services, encouraging and influencing good management practices.

To ensure each customer base receives an effective training and development service
• Establish and maintain learning and development plans (for each organisation as needed, standardising where possible) and processes that support the strategic direction and mission of the three institutes and NBIP.
• Develop an annual training plan and manage resources and budgets to achieve that plan.
• Develop and maintain a process for monitoring and measuring the effectiveness and quality of training interventions.

As agreed with the line manger, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post 

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Professionally qualified: MCIPD or equivalent

Essential

University Degree

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

A proven track record of successful HR leadership

Essential

Knowledge of all HR areas, with experience in leading development of pay, reward, pensions, terms and conditions and organisational development

Essential

In depth knowledge of UK employment law with experience in applying current legislation

Essential

Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of HR with ability to translate strategy into pragmatic outcomes

Essential

Knowledge and experience of the scientific, biotech or academic sectors

Desirable

Knowledge and experience of managing trade union and employee representation and negotiations within the UK legal framework

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Extensive experience of developing and implementing HR strategy and driving organisational change

Essential

Experience of working effectively and collaboratively as a member of a senior leadership team, with the ability to establish professional credibility

Essential

Experience of project management and presenting complex matters at Board level

Essential

Able to work collaboratively with senior colleagues while providing constructive challenge to deliver the best outcomes for each institute

Essential

Budgetary management

Essential

Experience in managing complex multifunctional and organisational relationships

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

A proactive HR leader with strong business acumen and experience of working within a similar environment and at Board level

Essential

Ability to motivate and develop teams to deliver results and provide an excellent HR service

Essential

Continuously reviews operational HR effectiveness and manages under performance in a timely manner ensuring value for money (VFM)

Essential

The credibility to influence decision making at a strategic level

Essential

Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders

Essential

Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to articulate complex information to different audiences

Essential

Perceptive, with excellent judgement and emotional intelligence in dealing with complex, confidential, or sensitive issues

Essential

The drive and resilience to positively effect change, address complex problems and challenge the status quo

Essential

Commercially astute

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to work outside normal working hours when required

Essential

Represent NBI at external events with BBSRC, Institute Pay Club, and Biosciences Pensions group

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Partnership, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate

Essential

NBI Partnership

The NBI Partnership provides non-scientific services to the John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). All of these organisations carry out scientific research funded by the UK Government, European Union, Charitable and Industrial Sponsors. The Partnership employs around 140 staff to cater for the needs of approximately 1100 Research Staff, Students and Visiting Scientists who are all located in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park.

The John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory are registered charities (No’s 223852, 1058499, 1136213 and 106550) and are Equal Opportunity Employers.

For more information about working at NBI Partnership, please click here.

Department

Human Resources

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Head of Human Resources

Salary: Competitive
Contract; Indefinite, full-time 
Applications Close: 22 October 2025

We are seeking a Head of HR to lead the HR function and provide strategic HR advice, guidance and leadership to the Earlham Institute (EI), John Innes Centre (JIC), and Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), as well as the shared services provided by the NBI Partnership (NBIP).

The NBIP Human Resources Department provides a comprehensive service to the NBI institutes, and the Head of HR will provide leadership, professional expertise and will work closely with each Institute’s leadership team to develop and deliver the strategies needed to support their scientific ambitions.

Working with the senior leadership teams you will be responsible for driving the strategic people agenda and delivering a professional HR function which supports NBI’s values and our inclusive and collaborative environment.

The successful candidate will be able to manage a substantial and varied workload, deliver projects, negotiate, and manage a range of complex issues while ensuring legal compliance, best practice and high standards.

Interested applicants are invited to submit a CV and covering letter by email to Orla.Dann@nbi.ac.uk.

The closing date is 22 October 2025.

The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.