What you need to succeed:
The CIPD qualification and a thorough knowledge of employment law are normally essential, as is the need to be an excellent communicator.
Usually, you will be responsible for the management of a small team and will play a pivotal role in most, if not all, of the projects run through the HR department. So previous supervisory experience and in-depth knowledge of a variety of HR-related topics should stand you in good stead.
What is involved:
As a senior member of the team, you will be expected to provide a comprehensive HR service to the organisation’s employees and, in the absence of the HR manager, you may well be asked to act as the department’s key point of contact.
You will probably be responsible for the administration of policies and programmes relating to training and development, compensation and benefits, recruitment and retention, performance management and compliance.
It is also possible that you will be asked to contribute towards the development of these policies.
Some senior HR officers are often required to undertake research and produce reports, analysing the cost-effectiveness of several different resourcing activities, for example.
Prospects:
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This role can be the perfect stepping stone between HR officer and HR manager, so there should be plenty of opportunities for career development in the future. That said, this type of position is normally only found within the larger organisations.
By Hays
