Role Title HR Manager Human Resources Business Partner South India Role Information Role Type Pay Band Location Duration Reports to: Advisory, policy and Expertise 5 Chennai Indefinite Sr. Manager HR, National Role purpose To manage a variety of HR Business support to area offices within clear guidelines, subject to some direct supervision; to support efficient and effective business activities in coordination with National HR team. Responsible for routine HR tasks, usually supervised either by their manager or by the system itself. Interaction with others is based on the requirement to provide and act upon simple requests for information. Geopolitical/SBU/Function overview The British Council is the UK s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. The South Asia region is of high priority for the UK and includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iran (non-represented) and Nepal. The British Council In India The British Council has been operating in India since 1948. Our vision is of a bilateral relationship strengthened by improved economic, social and cultural opportunities for the next generation of young people in India. We work in arts, education and by sharing the English language and increasingly focus on transformative programmes online (with the aim of reaching of tens of millions of people in 2017 and more in future years) and through partnerships in States across the country. In 2016-17 we engaged with almost 3.2m people through our operations and libraries in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai and through centres in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and Pune in partnership with the Indian Institute of Cultural Relations. A ten-yearlong programme with State Governments has trained over 1m teachers in government schools and reached 35m children. In addition, in 2016-17 we taught thousands of students in our teaching centres in New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. British Council India Exams business has recently separated into a new entity in Gurgaon and offers UK qualifications to hundreds of thousands of Indians wishing to enhance their English language, academic and professional skills. The British Council has been appointed the lead organization for a year of cultural exchange between Britain and India that launched in 2017. The programme, which includes digital and 1 The British Council
live showcasing, collaboration, capacity building and research is being implemented through influential partners and provides lasting value and benefit for both India and the UK. Human Resource Global changes are facing the HR function in general, including the stepped-up competition for talent, the impact of the economy, data driven HR practices, and the new developments in technology, combined with the region specific environment and complexities. The global HR team has undergone a significant restructure to position it more effectively to support the rapidly changing needs of the British Council. The Country HR Team would work in alignment with global & regional teams to ensure HR services in country are consistent with global (Centre of Expertise) CoE strategies, guiding principles, policies and procedures, processes and practices, and where necessary, advising adaptation to reflect local market needs and conditions, e.g. legal, regulatory, social and culture frameworks. The global CoE s includes: HR Operations: Data/Analytics/Reporting and International Mobility Total Reward: Pay, Benefits, Pensions and Job Evaluation Employee Relations, Wellbeing & Engagement Performance, Talent & Succession Learning & Development Resourcing South India The British Council in South India comprises the priority states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala. With a total population of some 266 million, our ambition is to transform the lives of a critical mass around 26 million or 10% of the population - of <40s. We will do this by building relationships with Chief Ministers and officials to design projects that deliver systemic change at scale using our Skills, English and Schools work and our Educational Services products. South India is the hub for IT and IT enabled services; it is home to many Indian multinationals like HCL, Infosys, Wipro and successful national start-ups like Flipkart and Myntra. It has a high number of educational institutions including engineering colleges and a rich cultural scene with a vibrant Arts scene in Bangalore and a number of key arts organizations and festivals in Chennai, Kerala and Bengaluru. Main opportunities/challenges for this role: Completion of work activities to agreed time and quality standards. Appropriate resolution of routine enquiries. Adherence to internal systems, processes and procedures. Provision of task-based support to projects. Fit for purpose systems, processes and documentation. Main Accountabilities: Advisory, Policy and Expertise To work and support the HR Team national across the broad spectrum of HR activity, to support efficient and effective business activities in the Area Supporting Areas in terms of HR business support in line with country HR policies, processes and ensuring implementation in close coordination with national HR team. To ensure uniformity in their respective areas in terms of country HR policies, guidelines in recruitment, discipline handling, performance management, L & D and other HR activities. Preparing and sharing HR dashboard with National HR Team Maintaining exit and induction documentation as per guidelines and sharing with national team for data integrity Supporting national team for rolling out and implementing HR initiatives as per fit for purpose HR in sync with National HRBP. 2 The British Council
Maintaining personnel files and other staff records for Area staff Coordinate and manage with National HR team for recruitment / on-boarding / exit activity liaising with country HR Team, e.g. interviews, selection, assessment, induction, transfer/transition, extensions and exit/termination procedures Provide support in the arrangement of interviews, internal and external events and on projects. Plans and prioritizes own activities, which span across a range of different work streams or internal client relationships. Responds to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a monthly/quarterly time horizon Functional Expertise Provide functional guidance and resolve problems encountered by colleagues on an ad hoc basis. Business partnering HR and knowledge of HR generalist and Statutory Compliance issues Customers & Stakeholders Respond to simple, routine enquiries, escalating where necessary. Liaise with National HR Team to resolve complex and/or sensitive employee relations case work issues. Develops good working relationships with appropriate colleagues throughout the British Council Area office to facilitate the effective provision of high quality and customer-focused services and advice As required, represents the British Council in discussions and dealings with external suppliers/providers Risk & Compliance Effective management of HR risk and compliance, ensuring that appropriate actions are in place to manage improvements to area audit finding Provide HR support, ensuring high quality service is delivered to maximize performance and minimize risks and costs. Investigating any reported instances of non-compliance with agreed corporate risk management policies (e.g. child protection, security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures), and taking appropriate remedial action, including escalation to more senior colleagues as required Interpret, plans and implements a range of agreed BC reporting procedures to ensure processes are compliant with BC systems & standards and holds staff to account for maintaining them, to ensure that results are accurately recorded, thereby enabling timely and effective decision-making Analysis & Reporting Prepare standard reports/documents in line with procedural guidelines. Maintain existing database to store files and data, etc. in specified formats. Uses detailed understanding of HR processes and systems to prepare reports and other materials using standard and non-standard formats and software Prepares standard management information reports to relevant data to aid management decision-making in the department. Risk & Compliance Explains to customers and colleagues the need for compliance with agreed HR corporate procedures. As required, collates compliance data within standard monitoring and reporting systems Effective management of HR risk and compliance, ensuring that appropriate actions are in place to manage improvements to country/cluster audit finding People Management Co-ordinating with teams and ability to operate within a geographically dispersed matrix structure, including the ability to co-ordinate resources not under role holder s direct control. 3 The British Council
Key Relationships: Internal HR Manager, Head Employment Relations, Head of Reward, Head of Talent, Learning & Development Partnering with business leads to understand business needs Working closely with the country HR team to ensure a cohesive national approach to working Supporting the Head- HR for Area specific HR support External Professional and government bodies, country appointed legal counsel, and HR consultancies Managing training vendors, and when required, Role Requirements: Threshold requirements: Assessment stage Passport requirements/ Right to work in country Notes (if any)* Legal right to work in India Shortlisting Person Specification: Qualifications Post graduate in Human Resources or a relevant professional HR qualification Relevant experience Shortlisting Role Specific Knowledge & Experience Track record of building effective relationships with business leadership teams and managing a range of internal stakeholders in the delivery of high quality and effective professional HR services. HR generalist experience, well versed in all areas of HR from talent and performance management to reward, L&D,HR data management. Well versed in all areas of the HR life cycle. Knowledge of local law system Working knowledge of employment and labour law in country where the post is Good experience in handling complex HR matters Experience of working in a multi culture organization Relevant experience Experience of working across matrix structure interview 4 The British Council
Knowledge of ERP software and people soft Role Specific Skills Good interpersonal skills, ability to work as a team member. Computer literacy and a good understanding of relevant software. British Council Core Skills 1. Managing projects (Level 2): Analyses project data - Examines project data and performance, reporting on progress and recommending corrective action as needed. 2. Communicating and influencing (Level 2): Relates communications to circumstances - Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences. 3. Planning and organizing (Level 1): Is methodical - Able to plan own work over short timescales for routine or familiar tasks and processes. 4. Analyzing data and problems (Level 1): Is systematic - Breaks down problems into a list of tasks to be done and decides on appropriate action. 5. Managing risk (Level 1): Follows good practices - Demonstrates understanding of risk management policies and procedures and record of following them. British Council Behaviours Connecting with Others (Essential: Making regular opportunities to understand others better). Working Together (Essential: Establishing a genuinely common goal with others). Prepared by: Assessment Stage Assessment Stage Date: HR Version 2 11 th October 2017 5 The British Council