Head of People Business Partnering and Strategic Planning; Deputy Chief People & Culture Officer

Head of People Business Partnering and Strategic Planning (Deputy Chief People & Culture Officer)

Location:

16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom (hybrid; expected 2 days a week in office)

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is on a bold mission to make the region the best place to live, work and visit. Since our launch in 2016 we partner with local councils and partners to deliver transformative change across transport, housing, net zero, skills and economic growth.

The People & Culture Services directorate, led by Sarah Lal, Chief People & Culture Officer (CPCO), is at the heart of this transformation. We have established a fresh purpose, a forward‑thinking strategy and are now rolling out a new Target Operating Model designed to elevate employee experience, boost productivity and align with WMCA’s ambitious goals.

• Health, Safety & Wellbeing
• Facilities, Workplace Services & Business Continuity
• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
• Total Reward & Pay
• Strategic Business Partnering
• HR Operations, Policy & Shared Services
• Professions & Workforce Development
• Organisational Design, Development & Change
• Learning, EDI & Employee Experience

We are creating a new structure and fresh ways of working and you could be part of this exciting journey.

• Shape and lead a future‑ready, values‑led business partnering model aligned with transformation goals.
• Act as the senior people advisor to Executive Directors on behalf of the CPCO, influencing strategy, governance and investment through people insight.
• Embed people strategy into organisational design, change programmes and workforce planning.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing People Business Partnering team, building strategic capability and succession.
• Champion inclusive, ethical and evidence‑based leadership, aligned with CIPD and Civil Service HR standards.
• Ensure seamless collaboration across People & Culture Services, driving innovation and high performance.
• Provide strategic oversight of people risks, trends and governance, using data to inform decisions.
• Lead people input into business cases and investment planning, ensuring value for money and alignment with financial goals.
• Represent WMCA in senior forums and deputise for the CPCO as needed.

• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent senior‑level HR experience).
• Extensive experience in a senior HRBP or strategic people leadership role within a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Proven track record of influencing executive‑level decision‑making through people insight and strategic advice.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional People input across the employee lifecycle.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing HRBP teams and embedding business partnering models.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, people policy and public sector governance.
• Deep understanding of strategic workforce planning, organisational design and change leadership.
• Skilled in using data, evidence and systems thinking to drive people strategy and organisational outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, coaching and influencing skills at Executive level.
• Strong awareness of strategic workforce drivers and organisational performance.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

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• Salary range advertised with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point; adjustments may be made to secure the best candidate.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme with contributions exempt from Income Tax and NICs.
• 28 days paid annual leave (plus statutory days) with the option to purchase more.
• EV car benefit scheme.
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will‑writing and mortgage advice.
• Option to buy a bicycle (including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles) at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to…