HR Business Partner WB1339

Waddington Brown Ltd; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A purpose-led organisation in Chelmsford seeks an HR Business Partner to lead employee relations strategy, foster workplace culture, and ensure compliance with UK employment law. The ideal candidate has a CIPD Level 5 qualification and experience in team management, driving engagement, and influencing stakeholders. This role offers competitive benefits, including up to 35 days holiday and performance-related bonuses.

Benefits

Performance related bonus

Healthcare support scheme

Up to 35 days holiday

Enhanced pension scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum CIPD Level 5 qualified.
• Strong track record in employee relations and UK employment law.
• Experience managing and developing a team.
• Ability to manage challenging conversations.

Responsibilities

• Lead employee relations strategy, managing complex cases.
• Develop an Employee Relations team.
• Drive employee engagement and cultural change.
• Support transformational projects like TUPE and restructures.

Skills

Employee relations

Coaching

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Influencing

Education

CIPD Level 5

Job description

Overview

HR Business Partner (Employee Relations)

Are you a passionate HR professional who thrives on creating positive workplace cultures, driving employee engagement, and leading complex employee relations strategies? This is a fantastic opportunity to join a purpose-led organisation that is committed to transforming lives and empowering independence through excellence in care.

As an HR Business Partner, you’ll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders, shaping the people agenda and ensuring colleagues feel valued, supported, and aligned with the organisation’s vision. You’ll lead a small team and partner closely with HR colleagues and operational leaders to deliver proactive HR strategies that make a real impact on employee wellbeing, retention, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Leading on employee relations strategy – managing complex cases, coaching managers, and ensuring compliance with UK employment law.
• Leading, coaching, and developing an Employee Relations team.
• Driving employee engagement and cultural change through initiatives that enhance motivation, retention, and workplace satisfaction.
• Partnering with leaders to embed values of fairness, inclusion, and transparency, and championing a culture where colleagues feel heard and supported.
• Supporting transformational projects such as TUPE, restructures, and culture change programmes.
• Using people data to identify trends, mitigate risks, and design commercially focused improvement plans.

About you

• Minimum CIPD Level 5 qualified
• Strong track record in employee relations, case management, and UK employment law.
• Experience of managing and developing a team.
• A commercial mindset with the ability to manage challenging conversations.
• Experience influencing and coaching senior stakeholders with confidence.
• Skilled in driving engagement and culture change in complex organisations.
• Commercially astute with strong data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Flexible and collaborative, with the ability to travel between sites as needed.

Why join?

This is a chance to make a tangible difference to both people and culture. You’ll join a values-driven organisation that believes in caring, integrity, teamwork, and excellence, and you’ll play a key role in shaping its future. In addition to salary, benefits include performance related bonus, healthcare support scheme, up to 35 days holidays inc Bank holidays, enhanced pension scheme, plus other benefits and discounts.

If you’re looking for a senior HR role where your expertise can directly improve employee experience and organisational impact, we’d love to hear from you. We are particularly keen to hear from individuals who are immediately available. For an informal conversation, please contact Eithne Sanders at Waddington Brown.