People and Culture (HR) section

The People and Culture (Human Resources) section’s purpose is to develop, advise and support University senior staff, managers and support employees on best people management and leadership practice through the development of employment strategy, policy, procedures and services that support the delivery of the University’s strategic goals, properly balancing the needs of the employees and the needs of the University.

People and Culture team

The People and Culture (HR) section consists of three sub-sections, each with a number of teams:

Employee Relations and Reward

Employee Relations and Reward is headed by Sara Limerick; People and Culture (HR) supports the achievement of excellence in education and excellence in research through the recruitment, retention, reward, recognition and development activities undertaken with and for University staff. Alongside the effective HR policies, procedures and guidelines being in place throughout the full life-cycle of employment, HR offers a wide range of specialist HR and support services to staff and seeks to ensure that the University continues to maintain and enhance its reputation as a leading employer.

    Contact Employee Relations and Reward teams

    Organisational Development

    Organisational Development Organisational Development Organisational Development Organisational Development is headed by Jo Andrews and brings together expertise in professional development and curriculum innovation. 

    Organisational Development teams

    • Academic and Professional Practice
    • Engagement and Employment Policy
    • Technology-Enhanced Learning

      Workplace Health and Wellbeing

      Workplace Health and Wellbeing is headed by Lara Carmel and actively promotes and maintains good health, safety and wellbeing in the University workplace as well as providing support when health, safety and well-being issues occur.

      Contact Workplace Health and Wellbeing teams

      Main contacts

      Departmental contacts

      Our departmental contacts (formally HR Links) are now part of our centralised team. If you have any queries you can send them directly to staffing@essex.ac.uk.

      What we do

      People Supporting Strategy

      The People Supporting Strategy (.pdf) sets out what building and sustaining partnership working means for the University as an employer and for our staff as its members.

      Its purpose is to identify how the University will develop the capacity and capability within our staff to deliver the goals we have set in our Strategic Plan; to live the values we have embraced and to support each other in contributing individually and collectively to the best of our ability and to develop our own potential.

      People and culture

      We ensure a diverse workforce in a safe, discrimination/harassment-free environment by:

      • maintaining compliance with employment law and government regulation
      • providing management and employee learning and development
      • developing appropriate policies and procedures

      Organisational development

      We provide learning and development in the areas of:

      • effective leadership
      • management and career development
      • employment legislation

      Resourcing

      We support managers to attract and secure the most qualified employees by:

      • pre-planning staffing needs
      • ensuring an effective internal interview process
      • increasing University visibility in the employment marketplace
      • identifying the best and most cost-effective recruitment sources
      • conducting thorough reference checking

      Retention

      We aim to retain our valued employees by:

      • assuring effective leadership qualities in our managers.
      • providing competitive salaries and benefits.
      • supporting employees and managers with their technical, interpersonal and career development learning and coaching.
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      Contact us
      General enquiries
      Telephone: 01206 873433