Head of HR

Job Description

Job title: Head of HR
Department: HR
Reporting to: Director of HR
Grade: 1
Starting Salary: £93,877 per annum + £6,177 per annum Car Allowance
Base: Gravesend, Kent
Closing date: 12 July 2024
Interview date: 7 August 2024

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Who we are:

The Port of London Authority is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames and responsible for the UK’s biggest port – 95 miles of the River Thames from the Estuary to Teddington Lock in West London. We work to keep river users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel.

The role:

A fantastic opportunity for a Head of HR to deliver real value to the Port of London by delivering strategic and operational HR policy, projects and interventions.

Working with a team of six people (four direct reports) within a small but very busy Human Resources function the successful candidate will lead the transformation and embedding of the Port of London Authority’s culture by championing values through strong leadership and inspirational behaviour. You will act as part of the organisational leadership team to ensure collective delivery of organisational and Thames Vision objectives.

Key Accountabilities:

• Working with the Director of HR to develop and implement HR strategy and policy.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team of HR professionals.
• Leading the HR processes and driving people management strategies whilst championing an open, embracing culture of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion throughout the organisation.
• Accountable for ensuring HR programmes and initiatives are implemented effectively and efficiently.
• Ensuring that the PLA complies with current regulations, accepted professional standards, policies, procedures and legislation including data protection and the Equality Act 2010.
• Accountable for developing and executing the HR Strategy and core areas of the HR department including Recruitment, ER, Employee Engagement, Reward and Recognition as well as maintaining and improving HR systems and management of the HR budget (c. £3.5m per annum).
• Drive the continuous improvement agenda with focus on engagement and welfare activities, maximising productivity, devolving HR responsibilities to line managers and building leadership capability.
• Take a lead role in transforming and strengthening the organisations culture, ensuring that the PLA’s values and approach are displayed.
• Execute a plan for diversity, equality and inclusion that aligns with PLA values, business strategy and commitments.
• Ensure managers are sufficiently skilled and enabled to access appropriate guidance and information to manage workforce issues.
• Actively challenge the status quo, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and accountability for implementing effective change.
• Deputising for the Director of Human Resources when needed, including taking on day-to-day responsibility for the effective functioning of the directorate in her absence

What we are looking for:

You will have a Masters level qualification in Human Resource Management (or equivalent experience) with associated specialism in employee relations or similar. Including five plus years of managing a team. Additionally, you will be a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development as a minimum, however the post-holder should be able to reach Chartered Fellow status.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Proven experience in a complex, unionised organisation, preferably in a safety critical organisation.
• Good knowledge of employment regulations and best practice application.
• Excellent knowledge of HR practices and able to integrate HR activity with wider business objectives.
• Capable of moving between strategic and operational level.
• Proven experience as an organisational and departmental leader.
• Proven track record in developing and delivering HR projects and improvements.
• Experienced job evaluator with market leading job evaluation tools, preferably Korn Ferry.
• Experience across the range of HR generalist activity including ER, Learning and Development, Compensation & Benefits, Recruitment and Selection.
• Excellent written communication skills and high level interpersonal, influencing, negotiating and relationship building skills with the ability to motivate self and others, including those outside the HR function.
• The ability to lead the development of effective employment policies.
• The ability to analyse and review HR data to identify trends.
• Experienced and confident to operate, present and influence at senior executive and board level with demonstrable experience of acting as trusted advisor to this senior stakeholder audience.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and proven delivery of objectives.
• Experience of organisational development and delivering change, restructuring and engagement initiatives.

Desirable

• Previous experience of scoping, initiating and managing the implementation of HR projects.
• Experience of management and implementation of HRIS.
• Although maritime experience would beneficial – transportation, logistics, utilities would all be an advantage

In return, we offer a competitive benefits package:

• 30 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Car Allowance
• Private Health Insurance
• Generous pension scheme
• Access to Occupational Health, Mindfulness, Counselling and Physiotherapy
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to MyGymDiscounts
• Salary sacrifice Car Scheme

For further information or if you would like to have an informal discussion about the position, please contact Karen Fuller (Director of HR) via her PA at sanita.lart@pla.co.uk

The PLA are not registered with the UK Home Office and do not sponsor candidates who require a visa or work permit to work in the UK, therefore an offer of employment cannot be made unless you currently hold the rights to live and work in the UK.