Human Resources Business Partner

Navantia UK; Methil; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Navantia UK is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, aligning HR initiatives with business goals to drive performance, engagement and growth. You will guide workforce planning, talent management and organizational development while embedding inclusive culture.

You will support recruitment strategy, change management initiatives, and compliance with employment law.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or HR project lead in a complex organisation.

Responsibilities

• Strategic partnership with senior leaders, translating business goals into HR strategies.
• Lead talent management, succession planning and workforce development.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations and engagement, ensuring compliant practices.

Skills

Business acumen

Stakeholder management

Analytical mindset

Employment law

Change management

Education

CIPD Level 5/7

Job description

Navantia UK is a UK incorporated company, subsidiary of Spanish Navantia, created to work with UK industrial partners in shipbuilding, defence and in offshore wind energy. With a history that goes back more than 300 hundred years, Navantia is a world reference in the design, building, integration and life cycle support of state-of-the-art war ships for the Spanish Navy and international customers and has extensive experience in ToT programmes.

Job Description

Job Purpose (high level overview)

The HR Business Partner (HRBP) acts as a strategic advisor to business leaders, aligning HR initiatives with organisational objectives to drive performance, engagement, and growth. The role provides expert guidance on workforce planning, talent management, employee relations, and organisational development, ensuring HR policies and practices support business priorities while fostering a positive, inclusive culture.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Strategic Partnership

• Collaborate with senior leaders to understand business goals and develop HR strategies that enable success.
• Influence decision-making through data-driven insights and workforce analytics.

Talent Management & Workforce Planning

• Lead local succession planning, talent reviews, and workforce development initiatives.
• Support recruitment strategy emphasising critical roles and underrepresented groups.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Provide expert advice on complex employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with employment law and company policies.
• Drive initiatives to improve employee engagement, diversity, and inclusion.

Performance & Change Management

• Partner with leaders on performance management processes and capability building.
• Support organizational change projects, including restructures and cultural transformation.
• Work with business to reduce absenteeism and in work sickness issues

Policy & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to HR policies, employment legislation, and best practice standards.
• Mitigate risk through proactive management of employee relations and compliance issues.

Data & Insights

• Utilise HR metrics and analytics to inform strategic decisions and measure impact.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for local leadership team.

Cross-functional Support

• Provide appropriate support to other HR functions, particularly Payroll and HR Data Management, to help ensure the timely and accurate delivery of HR services.
• Support the accuracy and integrity of employee data by ensuring that relevant workforce changes are communicated and recorded in a timely manner.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strong business acumen and ability to align HR strategy with organisational goals.

Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Deep knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.

Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights.

Skilled in conflict resolution, negotiation, and change management.

Standard Office Environment and role is site based. May be required to travel and/or have overnight trips. Hours worked may exceed regular schedule.

Physical Effort

Little chance of injury. Duties may involve sitting, standing, keyboarding with frequent flexible breaks.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. Job descriptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are an accurate representation of the post.

Generic Level Descriptions

Level Overview

Fully qualified to execute on job accountabilities working independently on most aspects of work.

Begins to manage medium to moderately complex projects; coaches and mentors others on project management issues that are supported by supervisor. Focus is on task management vs. resource and staff management.

Manages own time to meet agreed targets; develops plans for specifics work activities in own area over the short/medium term.

Complexity, Expertise & Problem Solving

Works on problems of diverse scope. Solves complex problems, takes on new perspective on existing solutions.

As a seasoned, experienced professional has developed a full understanding and expertise in area of specialization. Resolves a wide range of issues in creative ways. Identifies key issues and patterns in moderately complex situations; takes a broad perspective to problems and spots new, less obvious solutions.

Decision Making & Autonomy

Has decision-making authority and autonomy needed to deliver on accountabilities within job; seeks approval from others on matters outside of job scope; makes decisions regarding work and development of project team members when required. Exercises judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

Adapts information/style to the audience, explains difficult issues clearly, establishes consensus, attains agreement.

Builds internal and external relationships, with emphasis on those that facilitate the achievement of job accountabilities, such as relationships with key suppliers, customers and internal service providers.

Ensures commitments to internal and external client are met in a timely and cost-effective manner. Interprets client needs, and internal/external business issues, assessing the full requirements; identifies solutions to non-standard tasks/queries in own discipline. May take action to monitor and control costs within own work area.

Normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work and on new assignments.

Seeks and provides candid and timely feedback to improve performance; shares information in an open manner; fosters teamwork and innovation by involving others in problem solving, decision making and creative thinking.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or HR Project Manager in a complex organisation.

CIPD qualification at Level 5/7 or equivalent is preferrable.

Additional information

***Please note as part of the onboarding process all candidates will need to complete BPSS security clearance***

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.