Senior HR Consultant in Reading, United Kingdom

Microsoft is on a mission to empower every individual and organisation on the planet to achieve more. We are passionate about the role that technology plays in solving some of the greatest challenges facing our customers. Our culture is anchored in the concept of a growth mindset; we obsess about our customers, are diverse and inclusive and support each other as One Microsoft, to make a difference to all of our customers.

If this resonates with you, and you want to take your place in enabling us to become the most thriving, digitally-enabled and diverse company on the planet, helping people to achieve more, please read on!

We’re currently recruiting for a senior role in our UK HR Consulting function. Joining at a time of transformation, your mission will be to empower Microsoft’s business performance and inclusive culture through human centred, data and insights and AI powered coaching and global solutions for managers and employees working in all parts of Microsoft’s business.

As well as engaging with managers and employees through a challenging set of casework, you will join an HR community learning together to drive transformation through data insights & AI, building manager capability, improving employee experiences and deploying global solutions. Your peers are highly connected and supportive and you’ll have scope to bring your curiosity to work with you every day.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations

• Directs the diagnostics and resolution of issues with increasing complexity, visibility and risk related to policy or culture concerns/violations and incident or threat response, independently or by collaborating with managers, peers in Human Resources and Legal profession as appropriate; recommends solutions to address issues from a systematic perspective (e.g., establishing new principles/tools) while prioritizing employee experiences to maintain a safe and professional work environment.

• Assists/Partners with Employee Relations Investigations Team (ERIT) or Office of Legal Compliance (OLC) in investigations of serious cases and implements appropriate remediation in conjunction with a business, region, or geography; may lead the investigations for a business, region, or geography where resources are limited. Ensures appropriate documentation of issues is in place.

• Interprets trends in employee relations issues; designs and recommends interventions and solutions to facilitate an open, inclusive, Microsoft values-based environment that enables effective employee relations for an assigned business, region, or geography.

HR Solutions Consulting

• Provides expert consulting services to managers and employees in one or more focus areas related to HR programs, processes, and initiatives; represents their focus area in the broader HR community; influences the future direction of HR work by synthesizing insights and contributing perspectives, expertise, and leadership.

• Leads data analytics and organizational health diagnostics by creating analysis plans and leading the collaboration with Human Resources Business Partnership (HRBP); generates and/or presents trends and insights on organizational health solutions; recommends action plans to business leaders based on analytics and business/local needs.

Capability Building

• Identifies the appropriate approach and leverages resources to enhance manager capability by conducting one-on-one consulting/coaching with business leaders, or by engaging relevant stakeholders and Human Resource (HR) partners in capability building conversations.

• Leads their area in the collaboration with peer disciplines or professions (e.g., Talent Management, Learning and Development), as well as global Human Resource partners, to contribute insights, leverage resources, and provide capability building support for the leadership of a business, region, or geography via scalable projects, programs, and/or initiatives (e.g., manager excellence community, manager capability, onboarding, team-building, rewards communication).

• Identifies and aggregates training needs within the business, region, or geography supported; develops implementation plans to address the training needs identified, and partners with peer Human Resource (HR) disciplines in developing and coordinating respective trainings as needed.

HR Project and Programs

• Partners with Centers of Excellence on implementing and capitalizing on scalable Human Resources programs and processes (e.g., Rhythm of Business (ROB)/performance and development cycle, management excellence communities, employee movement, ad-hoc projects); manages Human Resources processes for a business, region, or geography by reviewing progress and making recommendations on project/program management.

• Leads the design and implementation of local Human Resource (HR) projects or programs (e.g., critical positions retention, mid-year performance checkpoint) based on unique needs for a business, region, or geography; provides project guidance related to prioritization, timelines, budget, resourcing, and impact.

• Leverages, aligns, and integrates communication strategies and messages from the Center of Excellence (CoE); guides others in the implementation of communication messages; collaborates with peer disciplines (e.g., Human Resources Business Partnership) to gain buy-in on programs and processes from business stakeholders.

Operational Compliance

• Interprets and advocates Microsoft values and compliance with HR policies for a business, region, or geography. Identifies/raises needs to mitigate potential risks by collaborating with the Legal profession; collaborates with peers in other businesses, regions, or geographies to share input and drive standardized/scalable approach for enhancing compliance.

• Leads the localization/update of policies and procedures related to managed projects and programs; establishes partnerships with Human Resources policy owners and relevant stakeholders; may lead efforts to update policies (e.g., benefits-related) in collaboration with peer Human Resource (HR) disciplines (e.g., HR Shared Services Support).

Queue Management

• Manages, distributes, and oversees queries coming through the Customer Relationship Management (CRM)/queue management system for a business, region, and geography; assesses severity levels of queries and determines management approach; responds to written correspondence, email and other outreach from employees and manager; shares feedback to the senior advisors for queue management system (AskHR) regarding opportunities to solve problems earlier in the funnel, escalation, and process efficiency.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with Human Resources or Business programs/processes

• OR Bachelor’s Degree AND experience with Human Resources or Business programs/processes.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Employee Relations experience.

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)/Society for Human Resources Management-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .