Human Resources Business Partner

TN United Kingdom; Derby; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a generalist HR professional to lead day-to-day operations and strategic projects. This role involves supporting the HR strategy, enhancing people management capabilities, and fostering a high-performance culture. Ideal candidates will possess strong HR knowledge, excellent communication skills, and a proactive approach to complex challenges.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of business needs and a commercial approach.
• Experience in building senior management relationships.
• Technical HR knowledge; CIPD qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement and deliver the HR Strategy/People Plan.
• Build strong relationships with senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide operational HR support on organization change.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Influencing

Customer focus

Education

Graduate level education

CIPD qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

This is a generalist HR role with the unique opportunity to lead and contribute to both day-to-day people operations and a range of strategic and cross-functional projects. The role provides strategic and operational HR support across the client area, leading key workstreams including employee relations, talent and succession planning, performance management, employee engagement, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and business-aligned HR initiatives. Working closely with the supported leadership team, and under the direction of the Head of HR or Senior HR Business Partner, the role supports the delivery of the People Plan and wider HR strategy. It also provides coaching and guidance to business & route leaders to enhance people management capability and drive people performance.

The role also involves upskilling line managers in core people management practices, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. This role requires a proactive, solution-oriented approach, with the resilience and can-do attitude needed to navigate complex people challenges. It delivers high-impact HR support on both operational and medium-term priorities, helping to align people practices with overall functional and route-level objectives.

Key Accountabilities

1. Implement and deliver the HR Strategy/People Plan in collaboration with the supported business, including talent, succession planning, and change management, to support business objectives and foster a high-performance culture.
2. Build strong relationships with senior leadership and stakeholders; coach and challenge business leaders on HR issues as needed.
3. Provide operational HR support on organization change, senior appointments, salary and bonuses, and graduate or apprentice programs.
4. Deliver cost-effective, client-responsive, and integrated people solutions aligned with business goals.
5. Support ownership of people management by the business and line managers, reinforcing the HR delivery model.
6. Collaborate with HR Centers of Excellence, HR Direct, and HR shared services to provide optimal solutions.
7. Work with Union representatives to support business solutions.
8. Coordinate with HR Business Partners across different areas for cross-functional issues.

Job Skills, Experience, and Qualifications

Essential

• Strong understanding of business needs and a commercial approach.
• Experience in building senior management relationships and improving people management.
• Passion for customer service and articulating achievements through business outcomes.
• Knowledge of best practice HR solutions to promote high performance.
• Experience coaching and influencing senior managers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influence skills.
• Ability to work with the business to develop and retain talent.
• Technical HR knowledge; CIPD qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience operating in complex environments, including involvement in change programs like TUPE, re-design, redundancy.
• Graduate level education.

Desired

• MCIPD or postgraduate HR qualification.
• Understanding of project management and experience managing complex projects.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.

Key Leadership Capabilities

• Influencing others
• Creating solutions
• Understanding others
• Making things happen
• Thinking flexibly
• Customer focus

Note: We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, even if they do not meet every listed requirement, to promote an inclusive workplace.