HR Business Partner - 9 months fixed term contract

Toolstation; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Contributory pension

BAYE/SAYE schemes

Life assurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Toolstation is seeking an experienced People Partner for a 12-month maternity cover, based near Northampton with hybrid travel to Middleton and Redditch. You will partner with directors and GMs to shape people strategy, lead change initiatives, and build leadership capability while energising teams to meet business goals.

The role emphasizes strategic, data-driven decisions, culture, and development programmes, with a strong focus on embedding new technologies and processes.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years in progressive People roles, ideally with retail logistics exposure.
• Experience partnering with senior leadership and driving organisational change.
• Background embedding People plans by translating operational goals into strategy.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnership: advise Leadership Team to align site strategy with business goals.
• Future Planning: develop leadership and team capability; drive succession planning.
• Drive Change: lead initiatives to embed new tech and processes with minimal disruption.
• Culture & Inclusivity: foster a high-performing, inclusive culture focused on wellbeing and continuous improvement.
• Coach & Counsel: provide expert guidance on employee relations and organisational design.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: use analytics to identify trends and proactively address issues.
• Champion Development: promote apprenticeships and learning platforms for growth.

Skills

HR strategy

Stakeholder management

Change management

People analytics

Retail experience

Leadership coaching

Education

HR qualification (e.g., CIPD) or degree

Tools

HRIS/People systems

Job description

What You'll Do

Hybrid working with Regular travel to Middleton, Northampton and Redditch

Ideally based close to Northampton

Start date: 1st January 2027

Toolstation is growing at an unprecedented level, and we are looking for a highly accomplished People Partner to join us for a 12-month maternity cover.

You will strategically partner with our business stakeholders, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. As we transform and scale, you will help us build the foundations for the future, ensuring our teams are structured, supported, and motivated. You will shift focus from transactional tasks to strategic growth, helping us energise our colleagues and realise our business ambitions.

• Strategic Partnership: Collaborate closely with the Leadership Team (Directors, Divisional Heads, and General Managers) to align local site strategy with wider business initiatives.
• Future Planning: Facilitate the development of leadership and team capabilities. You will drive succession planning, ensuring today’s managers evolve into tomorrow’s leaders.
• Drive Change: Act as a change agent, leading initiatives to ensure new technologies and operational changes are embedded effectively with minimal disruption.
• Culture & Inclusivity: Cultivate a high-performing culture centred on achievement, wellbeing, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
• Coach & Counsel: Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations and organisational design
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics to identify trends, predict workforce concerns, and implement proactive, evidence-based solutions.
• Champion Development: Lead upskilling efforts, including promoting apprenticeship programs and learning platforms to support colleague growth.

What You'll Bring

• HR Expertise: 5–8+ years in progressive People roles, ideally with a background in retail logistics, support functions and experience of partnering through change and transformation
• Operational Insight: Proven experience embedding within a business function and translating operational goals into a tangible People Plan.
• Strategic Influence: A natural influencer who builds trusting, credible relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Commercial Savvy: A critical thinker proficient with data who can ask challenging questions and back decisions with evidence.
• Adaptive communicator: A positive, curious mindset ready to navigate an evolving landscape, who can effectively communicate even in a highly emotive environment to achieve positive outcomes. Demonstrates a high degree of self awareness.
• Qualifications: A HR qualification (e.g., CIPD, degree) is valued but not essential

What You'll Get

You’ll find every opportunity to be yourself and to bring your personality and potential to work. You’ll find a business where you can develop a fulfilling career, wherever you want – up the ladder or across the group. You’ll also be rewarded with a competitive salary and benefits commensurate with the role, such as car allowance, contributory pension, BAYE and SAYE schemes, life assurance and discounts off Travis Perkins businesses and a range of other affiliate partners.

Toolstation. The story so far.

We’re one of Britain’s fastest growing multi-channel retailers of tools, accessories and building supplies and an integral part of Travis Perkins plc. The trade, home improvers and self-builders all trust us to deliver a lot more than tools. Our store expansion programme and the size and diversity of our Group, means we always have opportunities for ambitious people who want to grow with us.

Our policy is to employ the best qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief or disability #TS