The Open University UK
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 31 July 2027 Welsh Language: Not Applicable Job Description: About the Role The Open University is seeking a passionate and self-driven People Business Partner to join our team. You will play a pivotal role in embedding the People Services operating model, driving cultural evolution, and delivering impactful people initiatives. This role requires a proactive, agile mindset and strong leadership and influencing skills. Working closely with Academic and Professional Services Units, and People Services teams, the People Business Partner will take the strategic lead on designing and implementing people services initiatives and projects and local people plan delivery outcomes, that align with university goals, focusing on employee engagement, performance management, talent development, and organisational effectiveness. People Business Partners. will work across multiple Faculties and Professional Services Units The role will involve Relationship Management for its designated units, working collectively with the People Partnering Team on cross functional projects, supporting Lead Business Partners, operating within a matrix multi-disciplinary HR team. Reporting to a Lead Business Partner, the role will be agile in nature to advance the people strategy throughout the organisation, with additional focus areas including, workforce planning and change initiatives. PLEASE NOTE: there are 2 vacancies available 1 x Perm, and 1 x 2 year FTC (ending July 2027). As part of your application, you will be asked to indicate if you wish to be considered for one, or both of these positions. Key Responsibilities Workforce Planning:Collaborate with leadership to assess current and future workforce needs, developing strategies to bridge gaps and build organisational capability. People Strategy Execution:Provide expert input on organisational design, talent development, reward, performance management, and employee engagement in collaboration with Centres of Expertise and People Operations. Strategic Partnering:Build strong, trusted relationships with unit leadership teams. Influence and shape unit strategies by aligning people plans with business objectives. Leadership Development:Coach and support leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities and foster a high-performance culture. Change Leadership:Lead and support transformational change initiatives, ensuring alignment with university values and best practices in change management. People Analytics:Analyse and interpret complex people data to inform decision-making and drive business outcomes. Promote data literacy among managers. Cultural Development:Partner with leaders to assess engagement and culture, designing interventions that foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment. Employee Experience:Act as a coach and advisor to leaders on employee relations, engagement, and performance, ensuring a consistent and values-driven employee experience. Skills and Experience Essential: Proven experience in delivering strategic and operational HR solutions at a business unit level. Agile/Multi-disciplinary HR experience in a large scale organisaton. Demonstrable workforce planning experience. Strong influencing and relationship-building skills at senior levels. Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive cultural transformation. Proficiency in interpreting and leveraging people data and insights. Experience across a broad range of HR disciplines including talent, reward, organisational design, and employee engagement. Commercially astute with a track record of delivering value-added HR initiatives. Personal Attributes Creative and innovative thinker with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity. Collaborative and inclusive, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Passionate about delivering exceptional employee experiences and enabling organisational success. Desirable: Experience in higher education or a similarly complex, matrixed organisation. CIPD qualification or equivalent experience. Essential Requirements As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) stating why you are interested in this role and demonstrate your experience of working within multi disciplinary HR or People Services teams. Interview dates will be: 1st stage, 16-18 July and 2nd stage w/c 21 July - this will involve pre interview assessment work. Flexible working We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role. Early closing date notification We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications. It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We anticipate this being twice per month on average. If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 31 July 2027 Welsh Language: Not Applicable Job Description: About the Role The Open University is seeking a passionate and self-driven People Business Partner to join our team. You will play a pivotal role in embedding the People Services operating model, driving cultural evolution, and delivering impactful people initiatives. This role requires a proactive, agile mindset and strong leadership and influencing skills. Working closely with Academic and Professional Services Units, and People Services teams, the People Business Partner will take the strategic lead on designing and implementing people services initiatives and projects and local people plan delivery outcomes, that align with university goals, focusing on employee engagement, performance management, talent development, and organisational effectiveness. People Business Partners. will work across multiple Faculties and Professional Services Units The role will involve Relationship Management for its designated units, working collectively with the People Partnering Team on cross functional projects, supporting Lead Business Partners, operating within a matrix multi-disciplinary HR team. Reporting to a Lead Business Partner, the role will be agile in nature to advance the people strategy throughout the organisation, with additional focus areas including, workforce planning and change initiatives. PLEASE NOTE: there are 2 vacancies available 1 x Perm, and 1 x 2 year FTC (ending July 2027). As part of your application, you will be asked to indicate if you wish to be considered for one, or both of these positions. Key Responsibilities Workforce Planning:Collaborate with leadership to assess current and future workforce needs, developing strategies to bridge gaps and build organisational capability. People Strategy Execution:Provide expert input on organisational design, talent development, reward, performance management, and employee engagement in collaboration with Centres of Expertise and People Operations. Strategic Partnering:Build strong, trusted relationships with unit leadership teams. Influence and shape unit strategies by aligning people plans with business objectives. Leadership Development:Coach and support leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities and foster a high-performance culture. Change Leadership:Lead and support transformational change initiatives, ensuring alignment with university values and best practices in change management. People Analytics:Analyse and interpret complex people data to inform decision-making and drive business outcomes. Promote data literacy among managers. Cultural Development:Partner with leaders to assess engagement and culture, designing interventions that foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment. Employee Experience:Act as a coach and advisor to leaders on employee relations, engagement, and performance, ensuring a consistent and values-driven employee experience. Skills and Experience Essential: Proven experience in delivering strategic and operational HR solutions at a business unit level. Agile/Multi-disciplinary HR experience in a large scale organisaton. Demonstrable workforce planning experience. Strong influencing and relationship-building skills at senior levels. Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive cultural transformation. Proficiency in interpreting and leveraging people data and insights. Experience across a broad range of HR disciplines including talent, reward, organisational design, and employee engagement. Commercially astute with a track record of delivering value-added HR initiatives. Personal Attributes Creative and innovative thinker with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity. Collaborative and inclusive, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Passionate about delivering exceptional employee experiences and enabling organisational success. Desirable: Experience in higher education or a similarly complex, matrixed organisation. CIPD qualification or equivalent experience. Essential Requirements As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) stating why you are interested in this role and demonstrate your experience of working within multi disciplinary HR or People Services teams. Interview dates will be: 1st stage, 16-18 July and 2nd stage w/c 21 July - this will involve pre interview assessment work. Flexible working We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role. Early closing date notification We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications. It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We anticipate this being twice per month on average. If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
The Open University UK
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Research Assistant or Associate in Cognitive Robotics Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link Working for the OU Vacancies Our locations How to apply Accessibility hub Partners and Subsidiaries Language View profile Employee Login Job Description Research Assistant or Associate in Cognitive Robotics Apply now Advert Reference Number: 838 Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid Department: Knowledge Media Institute Salary: £38,249 to £45,413 Closing Date: 30 June 2025 Weekly Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 31 October 2027 (24 months in total) Welsh Language: Not Applicable Job Description: About the Role The Research Assistant / Associate role is funded by an Innovate UK grant in the context of the ITEA 4 2023 programme. The overall aim of this project is to improve organizational resilience through the development of novel technological solutions that strengthen the ability of an organization to adapt to changing conditions. In particular, this post has a focus on developing a new generation of cognitive robots, which are able to make sense of the environment in which they operate and identify anomalies, e.g., health and safety violations in hospital settings. About the Unit KMi The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) is a multidisciplinary corporate R&D lab for The Open University, committed to world class research at the forefront of AI and new media technology. The research conducted in the context of these projects covers a diverse set of analysis for online communities, personal need and event detection, and monitoring and predicting behaviour based on large data sets. The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) was set up in 1995 in recognition of the need for The Open University (OU) to be at the forefront of research and development in a convergence of areas that impacted on the OU's very nature: Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Knowledge Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Multimedia, and Human-Computer Interaction. Over the past 30 years, KMi has established itself as a major player on the world stage of research in AI and new media technologies, acquiring over £50M in external funding. A key aspect of KMi research is its focus on concrete user audiences and, indeed, throughout its existence, KMi has deployed research solutions that have led to significant innovations in both academic and commercial settings. STEM The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) comprises: School of Computing & Communications School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences School of Engineering & Innovation School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences School of Mathematics & Statistics School of Physical Sciences Knowledge Media Institute The STEM Faculty consists of 2500 staff including 1,800 Associate Lecturers. It delivers over 185 modules across undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum, supporting nearly 19,000 students (full time equivalents) which is 29% of the OU total. The Faculty generates more research income (circa £17M) than any other Faculty in the University, supported by a comprehensive laboratory infrastructure. Key Responsibilities To become familiar with the state of the art in object recognition and sensemaking in robotics. To develop novel sensemaking solutions for cognitive robots, which can perform effectively in the hospital settings relevant to the project. To perform rigorous task-centric evaluations of the developed solutions. To publish project results in high quality journals and conferences To collaborate effectively with our project partners. Skills and Experience Essential: PhD or equivalent experience in robotics. Experience with ROS (Robot Operating System). Experience in using state of the art methods for object recognition and sensemaking in robotics. Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Models. Experience in the evaluation of AI solutions. Able to draft technical reports and journal papers Excellent oral and written communication skills Essential Requirements To apply for this role please submit the following; CV that includes details of academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, grants received and publications. Supporting Statement that outlines how you meet the essential criteria listed above. You will need to have your CV and Supporting Statement ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Next Steps Interview date: Likely to be W/C 14th July via MS Teams. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date whether they have been shortlisted for interview. Work location It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs, for example for laboratory-based research and/or supervision of research students or occasional team meetings. This is likely to be 2-3 days per week. Flexible working We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role. For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Prof Enrico Motta at Apply now Information at a Glance Share this job Share Copy Link Email LinkedIn Facebook X Contact us If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. Search AL vacancies now > The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks. Study with us Accessibility statement Cymraeg Conditions of use Privacy policy Modern slavery act (pdf 149kb) Copyright Contact the OU Manage Cookie Preferences Apprenticeships News & Media OU LinkedIn OU Instagram OU TikTok OU Facebook OU X
Research Assistant or Associate in Cognitive Robotics Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link Working for the OU Vacancies Our locations How to apply Accessibility hub Partners and Subsidiaries Language View profile Employee Login Job Description Research Assistant or Associate in Cognitive Robotics Apply now Advert Reference Number: 838 Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid Department: Knowledge Media Institute Salary: £38,249 to £45,413 Closing Date: 30 June 2025 Weekly Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 31 October 2027 (24 months in total) Welsh Language: Not Applicable Job Description: About the Role The Research Assistant / Associate role is funded by an Innovate UK grant in the context of the ITEA 4 2023 programme. The overall aim of this project is to improve organizational resilience through the development of novel technological solutions that strengthen the ability of an organization to adapt to changing conditions. In particular, this post has a focus on developing a new generation of cognitive robots, which are able to make sense of the environment in which they operate and identify anomalies, e.g., health and safety violations in hospital settings. About the Unit KMi The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) is a multidisciplinary corporate R&D lab for The Open University, committed to world class research at the forefront of AI and new media technology. The research conducted in the context of these projects covers a diverse set of analysis for online communities, personal need and event detection, and monitoring and predicting behaviour based on large data sets. The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) was set up in 1995 in recognition of the need for The Open University (OU) to be at the forefront of research and development in a convergence of areas that impacted on the OU's very nature: Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Knowledge Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Multimedia, and Human-Computer Interaction. Over the past 30 years, KMi has established itself as a major player on the world stage of research in AI and new media technologies, acquiring over £50M in external funding. A key aspect of KMi research is its focus on concrete user audiences and, indeed, throughout its existence, KMi has deployed research solutions that have led to significant innovations in both academic and commercial settings. STEM The Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) comprises: School of Computing & Communications School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences School of Engineering & Innovation School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences School of Mathematics & Statistics School of Physical Sciences Knowledge Media Institute The STEM Faculty consists of 2500 staff including 1,800 Associate Lecturers. It delivers over 185 modules across undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum, supporting nearly 19,000 students (full time equivalents) which is 29% of the OU total. The Faculty generates more research income (circa £17M) than any other Faculty in the University, supported by a comprehensive laboratory infrastructure. Key Responsibilities To become familiar with the state of the art in object recognition and sensemaking in robotics. To develop novel sensemaking solutions for cognitive robots, which can perform effectively in the hospital settings relevant to the project. To perform rigorous task-centric evaluations of the developed solutions. To publish project results in high quality journals and conferences To collaborate effectively with our project partners. Skills and Experience Essential: PhD or equivalent experience in robotics. Experience with ROS (Robot Operating System). Experience in using state of the art methods for object recognition and sensemaking in robotics. Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Models. Experience in the evaluation of AI solutions. Able to draft technical reports and journal papers Excellent oral and written communication skills Essential Requirements To apply for this role please submit the following; CV that includes details of academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, grants received and publications. Supporting Statement that outlines how you meet the essential criteria listed above. You will need to have your CV and Supporting Statement ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Next Steps Interview date: Likely to be W/C 14th July via MS Teams. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date whether they have been shortlisted for interview. Work location It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs, for example for laboratory-based research and/or supervision of research students or occasional team meetings. This is likely to be 2-3 days per week. Flexible working We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role. For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Prof Enrico Motta at Apply now Information at a Glance Share this job Share Copy Link Email LinkedIn Facebook X Contact us If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. Search AL vacancies now > The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks. Study with us Accessibility statement Cymraeg Conditions of use Privacy policy Modern slavery act (pdf 149kb) Copyright Contact the OU Manage Cookie Preferences Apprenticeships News & Media OU LinkedIn OU Instagram OU TikTok OU Facebook OU X