Associate Director People Partner

Meet Life Sciences; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading life sciences company in the UK is seeking an Associate Director, People Partner to drive cultural transformation and enhance business performance. The ideal candidate will have robust HR leadership experience, a strong background in employee relations, and a proven record in change management. This strategic role includes partnering with senior leaders and delivering impactful people strategies while fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Robust experience in a generalist HR leadership role supporting a diverse and fast-paced business.
• Strong background in employee relations, including dismissals, grievances, and restructuring.
• Demonstrated success in leading change management and organisational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to design and deliver people strategies that drive culture, capability, and performance.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to business leaders.
• Lead consistent talent assessment and succession planning.
• Coach leaders to embody the desired culture and enhance team effectiveness, leadership capability, and engagement.
• Drive the understanding and application of fair and consistent performance management, reward, and recognition processes across the organisation.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, and performance issues, ensuring compliance with legislation and company values.
• Work with functional heads to proactively plan recruitment needs and develop cost‑effective, high‑quality talent acquisition strategies.
• Collaborate across the People team to align initiatives, leverage synergies, and maximise impact on business results.
• Monitor and analyse key people metrics (e.g. retention, turnover, absence) to influence and inform business decisions.
• Support organisational design, change management, and employee engagement initiatives that strengthen culture and performance.
• Ensure consistent and fair application of pay, reward, and mobility practices across the organisation.
• Coordinate payroll processes with internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement in all areas of people and culture.

Skills

Generalist HR leadership

Employee relations

Change management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Collaboration

Communication

Stakeholder management

Adaptability

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

Direct message the job poster from Meet Life Sciences

An exciting opportunity as an Associate Director, People Partner to take a leading role in driving cultural transformation and business performance. This role is ideal for a strategic yet hands‑on HR professional who excels at partnering with leadership teams to deliver meaningful organisational, behavioural, and operational change.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to design and deliver people strategies that drive culture, capability, and performance.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to business leaders, connecting insights to business priorities and ensuring accountability for outcomes.
• Lead consistent talent assessment and succession planning, identifying and developing future leaders and building a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
• Coach leaders to embody the desired culture and enhance team effectiveness, leadership capability, and engagement.
• Drive the understanding and application of fair and consistent performance management, reward, and recognition processes across the organisation.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, and performance issues, ensuring compliance with legislation and company values.
• Work with functional heads to proactively plan recruitment needs and develop cost‑effective, high‑quality talent acquisition strategies.
• Collaborate across the People team to align initiatives, leverage synergies, and maximise impact on business results.
• Monitor and analyse key people metrics (e.g. retention, turnover, absence) to influence and inform business decisions.
• Support organisational design, change management, and employee engagement initiatives that strengthen culture and performance.
• Ensure consistent and fair application of pay, reward, and mobility practices across the organisation.
• Coordinate payroll processes with internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement in all areas of people and culture.

Requirements

• Robust experience in a generalist HR leadership role supporting a diverse and fast‑paced business.
• Strong background in employee relations, including dismissals, grievances, and restructuring.
• Demonstrated success in leading change management and organisational transformation.
• Payroll management experience and familiarity with external providers.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands‑on operational execution.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Flexible, adaptable, and collaborative approach with a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.

Ideal Profile

A highly energised, credible, and resourceful HR leader with a passion for driving business performance through people. You’ll combine strategic insight with a pragmatic, hands‑on approach — confident influencing at all levels, leading by example, and shaping a culture of accountability, inclusion, and excellence.