People Business Partner

Svitzer; Teesdorf; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan (up to 10%)

Private health & dental plan

10% bonus

Job summary

Svitzer is seeking an operational, hands-on People Business Partner for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover to support UK operational leaders. This role is hands-on HR delivery with a strong focus on employee relations in a unionised environment, change programmes, and governance.

The role is hybrid and preferred offices include Bristol, Liverpool or Middlesbrough, delivering practical people solutions and compliant employment practices across the UK.

Qualifications

• Solid experience as a People/HR Business Partner or Senior Advisor.
• Strong track record in employee relations within a unionised environment.
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Business Partnering: deliver practical people solutions and advise on workforce planning and performance.
• Employee Relations: lead on complex ER cases and union consultations; ensure fair policy application.
• Change & Transformation: support restructures and redeployments with compliant communications.
• Risk & Compliance: governance and compliance with UK employment law; escalate risks.

Skills

People Business Partner

Employee relations

UK employment law

Change & transformation

Stakeholder influence

Job description

People Business Partner – UK – Hybrid

preferably from either Bristol, Liverpool or Tees office

12 Months Fixed term Contract - maternity cover

Svitzer is a leading global towage and marine services provider operating across 37 countries with over 4,000 employees. Founded in 1833, Svitzer builds on almost 200 years of experience, and our powerful tugboats and experts in towage work tirelessly to keep goods flowing, businesses thriving, and communities connected.

In the UK, our people work in a demanding, safety-critical, operational environment. Supporting them well is not optional — it’s business critical.

We’re looking for an operational, hands‑on People Business Partner for 12 months Fixed Term Contract to cover maternity leave

Location: Hybrid preferably from our Bristol, Liverpool or Middlesbrough office.

Package includes

• up to 10% contributory pension
• Private health & dental plan
• 10% bonus

Overview

We’re looking for a commercially focused People Business Partner to step into a 12-month fixed‑term role supporting operational leaders across the UK. This is a hands‑on partnering role; you’ll be in the detail, driving outcomes across employee relations, change, and day‑to‑day HR delivery.

You’ll operate in a unionised environment, so experience with trade unions and confidence navigating complex ER landscapes is a must.

What You’ll Be Doing

Business Partnering

• Work directly with managers and operational leaders to deliver practical people solutions
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice on workforce planning, team structure, and performance
• Support delivery of key people initiatives aligned to business priorities

Employee Relations

• Lead on complex ER cases including disciplinary, grievance, and absence
• Engage with trade union representatives on consultations and ongoing matters
• Ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant application of policies
• Support negotiations, consultations, and dispute resolution

Change & Transformation

• Support organisational change programmes including restructures and redeployment
• Manage consultation processes in line with legal and collective agreement requirements
• Ensure change is implemented smoothly with clear communication

Risk & Compliance

• Maintain strong governance and ensure compliance with UK employment law
• Identify, manage, and escalate people‑related risks where required

What You’ll Bring

• Solid experience as a People/HR Business Partner or Senior Advisor
• Strong track record in employee relations within a unionised environment
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience supporting organisational change and consultation processes
• Ability to influence, challenge, and build credibility with stakeholders
• Pragmatic mindset — you focus on solutions, not theory

What We’re Looking For

• Someone comfortable operating independently
• A steady pair of hands who can balance operational pressure with sound judgement
• Clear, direct communicator who can challenge constructively
• Organised, adaptable, and able to keep pace with a busy operational environment

This role is about delivery. If you’re strong on ER, confident with unions, and comfortable being the go‑to HR partner for the business — this role is for you.

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don’t meet every single requirement?Studies have shown that members from some under‑represented groups are less likelyto apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!