Thank you for your interest in joining St Mary’s University as our new Director of Human Resources.
At St Mary’s, we are dedicated to preparing our students for flourishing lives and successful careers within a community of mutual respect. We aspire to enable every student to achieve their full potential, through outstanding support for their learning and giving them a broad and rich experience.
We pride ourselves on being an academic community which values positive human relationships, promoting belonging and supporting individuals to be the best version of themselves.
In challenging times, we continue to thrive, achieving real progress and success in student satisfaction and community impact. We recently climbed to our highest ever position in the 2022 Good University Guide while ranking 18th nationally for overall satisfaction in the 2021 National Student Survey. Our community is characterised by trust among staff and students, and our core values of respect, inclusion, generosity of spirit and excellence.
We are now seeking to appoint a Director of Human Resources to continue the development and implementation of our people strategy, ensuring that the University’s strategic aims are supported and enabled through the provision and application of innovative HR and OD services. Reporting to me, the Director will lead our HR and OD teams, working in partnership with departments across the University, championing a culture of positivity and inclusivity and supporting a wide range of activity, from staff engagement to change management.
You will be CIPD-qualified with experience of leading an HR function. You will be able to evidence a track record of implementing successful HR and OD strategies that have led to a measurable improvement in performance and engagement. You will thrive in an environment that is characterised by complexity and change. Whilst prior higher education sector experience is not essential, you will ideally bring experience of leading employee relations in a unionised environment.
If you are excited about the prospect of joining St Mary’s, then we do hope you will express an interest in the Director of Human Resources role.
You can find out more about the University and the Director of Human Resources role on this site and our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be pleased to discuss the role with you.
Established in 1850 and with a deep heritage in education, St Mary’s University, Twickenham has a strong reputation for teaching excellence and a student-centred approach. Our aim is to prepare students for flourishing lives, successful careers and social commitment through excellent, research-enriched teaching in a community of mutual respect based on our Catholic ethos and values.
Developing and enhancing partnerships is important and we work with other universities at home and abroad, dioceses and institutions, local FE colleges and many schools across the UK. With nearly 5,000 students, 700 staff, and a turnover of £52 million, the University makes significant contributions to our local community and wider society, empowering our community to have a positive impact on the world.
Key Achievements and highlights
Mission
We are an inclusive Catholic university seeking to develop the whole person and empower our community to have a positive impact on the world.
Vision
Our students and staff are at the heart of everything we do. We are an inclusive university, open to those of all faiths and none, and a local institution in a global city, serving a growing and richly diverse student community in locations both real and virtual.
Values
Rooted in our Catholic Foundation, with the value of the human person at its heart, our values set us apart, shape our behaviour and inform all our decisions in a university that responds to the demands of today.
Inclusiveness
We celebrate differences and welcome diversity, recognising that everyone is born with a unique identity. St Mary’s is a place where all students and staff can reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to society.
Generosity of Spirit
Across the University there’s a strong sense of encouragement, collegiality, empathy, helpfulness, and service to others.
Respect
We respect all and treat everyone as we ourselves would want to be treated.
Excellence
We strive to be the best at everything we do. We set high standards and seek continuous improvement in all our practices and work.
Please see the following link for the University management structure.
Vision 2030: The Future of St Mary’s
St Mary’s is committed to providing our students with a transformational experience. Offering strong support and challenging goals whilst they study with us and opportunities to be part of the wider St Mary’s community beyond their time here, we want our students to be highly skilled, informed and civically engaged. Vision 2030 sets out how we will do this, building on the successes of the past and setting our direction for the coming years.
To achieve our Vision, we have identified five Pillars that will support our strategy.
Foundations to success
In order to achieve our Vision, we need to ensure that we adopt key strategies and develop new processes to provide the essential foundations for our success.
We will continuously improve our operations to ensure a sustainable future by:
Financial Sustainability: Our long-term financial plan has created, and will continue to provide, a stable foundation for our strategic objectives. In order to release funds for investment we will continue to pursue this plan.
Integrated Strategic Planning: an evidence-based planning process will bring together strategic aims, staffing plans and budget needs, in the context of a medium-term planning horizon.
We will enhance the staff and student experience through digital transformation:
Better Systems and Processes: building on investment in technology we need to ensure that our data is joined up, and that we streamline processes for staff to free up time for delivering core teaching activities.
Digital Teaching and Learning: We will continue to develop our capacity and approach, ensuring that our offer is driven by student need and preference.
We will improve efficiency across the University:
Bureaucracy is frustrating for everyone. We’ve made some useful changes to internal governance, but we will work with staff to identify more opportunities. We will also improve communication and collaboration to enhance the staff and student experience. We’ll turn to our Board of Governors, Development Board and advisory boards for insights into best practice.
You can read more about our Vision 2030 here.
Job title: Director of Human Resources
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Salary: Dependent on experience
Hours: Full time – At this level the post holder will be expected to work flexibly, including evening and weekends as necessary.
Term: Permanent
Since 1850, St Mary’s mission has been to provide a high-quality professional environment, inspired by its distinctive ethos and values. The University is an inclusive academic community, where everybody is welcomed.
As the University builds on its proud heritage, it will be looking for exceptional people to help shape its progressive future.
The Human Resources team works in partnership with departments and individuals across the University. Drawing on our professionalism, expertise and knowledge, our responsibilities range from staff empowerment to change facilitation. In everything we do, we champion a culture of positivity and inclusivity.
To view the current HR Organisational chart, please click here.
Job purpose
Main duties and responsibilities
Leadership and strategic responsibilities
Operational responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge and qualifications
Skills and competencies
University policies and procedures
All staff are expected to undertake their work in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful manner, particular consideration should be given to the University values.
St Mary’s University reserves the right to change and amend this job description/person specification in accordance with the changing requirements of the organisation.
You can download a copy of this Job Description and Person Specification by clicking here.
St Mary’s University is located in Twickenham, which is just half an hour by train from the heart of London. This gives both staff and students access to the best of both worlds: a dynamic, bustling city and a tranquil, riverside suburb, with excellent schools and facilities. Many staff and students choose to work and study at St Mary’s because of its prime location.
A snapshot of the local area
A leafy, suburban neighbourhood, Twickenham is a mixture of period houses, formal gardens and parks surrounding King Street, the town’s centre. Twickenham offers many traditional pubs and restaurants, with many diverse cuisines. Church Street runs adjacent to the river and comprises cafés, boutiques, small bookshops, and a church.
The lively riverside towns of Kingston and Richmond are a short bus ride away from the University. Throughout the day, the towns attract visitors who come to enjoy the shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, live music venues, bars, and theatres. Teddington, just along the road from the University, was recently named “the best place to live in London” by the Sunday Times.
Outdoor spaces
Marble Hill Park in East Twickenham is a charming local park and the setting of Marble Hill House, a Venetian villa built for a mistress of George II and now a local landmark. Just a short stroll along a peaceful riverside road into secluded woodland gardens is Orleans House Gallery, a stunning 18th century house and gardens which now serves as an art gallery, hosting regular exhibitions and workshops.
St Mary’s is close to two of London’s eight royal parks. Both Richmond Park and Bushy Park, where Parkrun started, offer staff and students hundreds of acres of beautiful, secluded woodland for get-away-from-it-all walks, as well as space for cycling and running.
Twickenham and the adjacent River Thames also provide lots of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Culture, history and heritage
Flood Lane and Church Lane lead down to the river where you can enjoy a drink in one of the riverside pubs or cross the bridge on to Eel Pie Island. Many musicians began their careers or played sets at the Eel Pie Island Hotel and recorded material at Eel Pie Studios.
In 2017, St Mary’s became the proud operator of The Exchange in Twickenham – a newly built community venue that boasts a 300-seat theatre, six studio rooms, a café and a bar. St Mary’s students benefit from teaching and training at the site, with drama students staging performances in the theatre.
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, museums, galleries and other historic houses open to the public are also among unique features of the local area. On St Mary’s campus itself is Strawberry Hill House, Horace Walpole’s Gothic Revival villa.
Sport
The rugby capital of the world, Twickenham Stadium is the home of the Rugby Football Union. Seating 82,000, it is the 5th largest stadium in Europe and hosts the Six Nations matches and the Rugby World Cup, as well as the annual varsity match between rival universities Oxford and Cambridge. The prestigious matches attract fans from around the globe who celebrate in Twickenham’s pubs and bars, creating an unrivalled atmosphere. The area is also home to Harlequins and London Irish rugby clubs.
The stadium has a state-of-the-art fitness centre attached, as well as a world-renowned rugby museum. The stadium is also regularly used as a venue for concerts.
Find out more at www.stmarys.ac.uk/location
The salary is dependent on experience and will be negotiated with the preferred candidate.
Holiday entitlement is 30 days annual leave, with the option to purchase an additional five days per annum, plus public holidays and University closure days between Christmas and New Year.
The successful candidate will be eligible to join the St Mary’s University Pension Plan and Group Life Assurance with Aviva.
St Mary’s offer a range of additional benefits including the Cycle2Work scheme, season ticket loan and on-site gym and sports facilities at a discounted rate.
More information on employee benefits can be found at http://www.stmarys.ac.uk/jobs/benefits.htm
We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring and particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in the University workforce.
We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this throughout the application process.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to St Mary’s University. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley:
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 23 May 2022.
Applications should consist of:
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using the reference AQ1405
Timetable
Closing date: | noon on Monday 23 May |
Longlisting: | Friday 27 May |
Preliminary interviews with AQ: | w/c 6 June |
Shortlisting: | Thursday 16 June |
Panel Interviews: | Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 June (on campus) |
Conversation with the Vice-Chancellor, Provost and the Chief Operating Officer for the chosen candidate(s): |
w/c 4 July (TBC) |