Head of People and Organisational Development - College of Social Sciences
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Role Description
Purpose
Main duties & responsibilities
- Lead strategic areas of responsibility as the senior P&OD functional lead on the College Management Team ensuring clear alignment with, and delivery of, University and College strategic goals, ensuring that strategic plans are monitored and delivered in accordance with agreed timescales and performance standards as appropriate.
- Actively contribute to strategic and operational deliberations as the senior P&OD functional lead on the College/US Management Team, School/Service executive forums and other working groups, and engage in strategic decision making at a College level.
- Initiate, develop and implement innovative people management strategies and development plans, reflecting best practice and legal compliance, across the College/US informed by regular horizon scanning.
- Provide and promote a proactive strategic business partner approach and deliver a high-quality professional service, coaching senior colleagues in the provision of strategically efficient and business-oriented solutions on people & OD related issues, including the associated implications of these decisions and actions focused on enhancing College performance.
- Lead, motivate and develop the college team of Business Partners, ensuring team related behaviours and attitudes reflect University values, applying appropriate professional standards, setting targets and reviewing individual performance accordingly. Develop an annual workplan for the team allocating key areas of responsibility and projects accordingly and ensuring alignment and necessary time commitment to university-wide initiatives and priorities.
- Champion the University’s diversity and inclusion agenda throughout the College/US supporting Athena Swan and other related initiatives at unit level as appropriate. Lead the development and implementation of an effective engagement and wellbeing strategy for the College thereby nurturing and embedding our culture and values.
- Facilitate, support and deliver major organisational change and related initiatives, including restructuring, improving business efficiency, leading on employee relations, supporting the resolution of complex casework and/or mitigating any potential risks to the College and/or University. Ensure positive engagement with the campus trade unions, working within a partnership model to deliver meaningful consultation and, where appropriate, joint working with the P&OD centres of excellence including the case management hub.
- Maintain key working relationships with all parts of the University and external organisations both within and outwith the sector and keep abreast of external developments and their associated impact on University policies and procedures. Participate in external networking opportunities to enhance sector knowledge and to share best practice with/from other institutions.
- Lead the local delivery and application of wider University procedures such as Performance & Development Review, Job Evaluation, Rewarding Contribution, Academic Promotion & Zone Movement ensuring these are positively deployed in alignment with strategic people plans within the College/University Services. Actively participate in P&OD policy development, its implementation and consistent application.
- Work with members of the College Management Group and P&OD senior colleagues to develop and deliver a strategic workforce plan for the College, focussing on talent attraction, development and retention and succession planning. Ensure the organisational shape and size of the College is regularly reviewed to best deliver agreed strategic goals and is consciously aligned with the wider University structures.
- Fully and actively engage in strategic delivery and activities as a member of the University’s P&OD executive team, representing College interests in the development of University people initiatives, and maintain effective networks with senior P&OD colleagues across the campus. Ensure the Business Partnering function works closely with the P&OD Centres of Excellence and Shared Services hubs, developing effective partnerships and ensuring smooth delivery of services to local stakeholders.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential
- A relevant postgraduate qualification with substantial strategic P&OD leadership experience and track record at a senior level with significant professional development and current specialist knowledge of best people practice
- Current and continuing Chartered FCIPD membership
- A comprehensive knowledge of people management principles, good practice and employment law relevant to large complex UK organisations.
Desirable
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Knowledge and understanding of people and organisational development policy and practice within the UK Higher Education sector.
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Knowledge of job evaluation methodologies (Korn Ferry/Hay).
Skills
Essential
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Ability to think strategically and to manage complex and challenging issues to gain competitive advantage
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Excellent problem-solving skills in a complex environment
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Strong influencing, negotiating, networking and interpersonal skills and ability to establish personal and professional authority at all levels
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Commercial acumen and professional credibility in the effective application of insight to inform business decisions
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Excellent data analysis, financial and numerical skills, including the use of associated software (e.g. Excel, databases, etc.)
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Strong track record of success in delivering change management projects on time and to budget
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Ability to explore client needs and adapt services accordingly in the provision of high-quality and value for money service.
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Ability to operate as an effective leader as well as working collaboratively as part of a team across a matrix structure.
Desirable
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Facilitation skills
Experience
Essential
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Substantial track record of HR/P&OD leadership experience and strategic business partnering working at a strategic level in a large, complex unionised environment
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Significant experience of people management and project management
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Proven track record in delivering strategic change and experienced in successfully implementing change management initiatives on time and to budget
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Experience of working in a talent-led organisation, delivering strategic workforce planning, talent management & development/succession programmes
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Experience of formal trade union arrangements and associated employee relations environment
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Experience of interpreting highly complex information to provide effective ‘good practice’ solutions to achieve results
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Significant experience of aligning institutional strategy to policy development
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Significant experience and successful track record of managing and monitoring performance
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Highly successful at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships at all levels inspiring trust and confidence
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Experience of preparing and presenting highly complex information and presenting for a variety of purposes and audiences
Desirable
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Experience of negotiation in local collective bargaining
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Experience of exercising organisational development solutions including delivering development sessions, coaching & mentoring, etc
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Experience of specialised employment matters as appropriate e.g. international secondments and joint appointments overseas
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Experience of working in a matrix structure
The College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow is a large, complex and high-performing academic community with a clear sense of purpose: to generate knowledge, insight and graduates that contribute meaningfully to social progress. With over 12,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes, and a staff body exceeding 1,100, the College is one of the most significant social science groupings in the UK.
The College brings together six constituent academic units: the Adam Smith Business School, the School of Education, the School of Law, the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, the School of Social and Political Sciences, and the Centre for Public Policy. This structure provides a strong disciplinary base while supporting an increasingly mature and strategically aligned interdisciplinary agenda. Research excellence is embedded across all Schools, as demonstrated in REF 2021, where more than 90% of outputs were assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, and the research environment was recognised for its vitality and sustainability. Alongside this, the College has built a distinctive profile in engaged scholarship, characterised by deep partnerships with policymakers, industry, civic organisations and communities.
Teaching and learning are central to the College’s identity and future. The College has experienced sustained growth in student numbers over recent years, driven by academic reputation, portfolio innovation and global reach.
Governance within the College is well established, transparent and participatory, supported by an engaged College Management Group. There is a strong institutional commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, early career development, leadership capability and positive workplace culture.
Campus development plan
Our Vision
Over the next 10 years, the major investment will expand our campus footprint by 25%, creating a new urban quarter with the University at the heart of a revitalised west end. This is the largest development since the creation of the original campus in 1870.
This is a unique opportunity for a University to extend the boundaries of its historic core in a central city location. It will create:
- New learning and teaching facilities
- Refurbishment and repurposing of existing iconic buildings for specialist uses
- Identification and design of social spaces that support the student and community experience.
The expansion of our Gilmorehill campus into the 14 acre, former Western Infirmary site will transform the West End of Glasgow. The Masterplan for the site will incorporate:
- New learning and teaching facilities supporting our students and making sure they get the best in modern teaching and learning styles and approaches
- Creation of a Research Hub, housing large-scale multidisciplinary projects and incubator space for spin out collaborations with industry. This will encourage further innovation development
- New public cycle and pedestrian routes and a new central square which will link Byres Road to the up-and-coming cultural quarter for the West End, with new links to Kelvingrove and the newly-refurbished Kelvin Hall
- Refurbishment of five listed buildings: The Chapel, the Outpatients building, the Macgregor building, the Tennent Institute and Anderson College
- Commercial opportunities, including a hotel, restaurant, bars and cafes
- The state of the art Learning and Teaching Hub adjacent to the Boyd Orr building on University Avenue will be completed next year.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created two guides to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 23:45 30th April 2026
Contact Martina Cooper at martina.cooper@glasgow.ac.uk for an informal, confidential discussion.
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Competitive
This post is full time and open ended.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
A flexible approach to working.
A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University .
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability