Lead Specialist, HR Business Partner

Pearson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson in London is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to shape the people agenda for our global Finance function. You’ll partner with senior leaders to translate business priorities into practical people strategies that enable high performance and transformation.

You’ll lead organisational design, workforce planning and change initiatives, while coaching leaders and building strong talent pipelines across UK, US and India.

Qualifications

• Strong HR business partnering experience gained within a large, complex and international organisation, partnering with senior leaders.
• Experience supporting Finance, Corporate Functions or similarly complex professional teams.
• A track record of translating business priorities into practical people strategies and measurable outcomes.
• Strong experience across organisational design, workforce planning and organisational change.
• The credibility and judgement to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and navigate competing priorities.
• Experience working across different countries, cultures and time zones.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to connect people decisions with wider business, financial and operational priorities.
• Confidence using people data and insight to identify trends and turn findings into clear recommendations.
• An interest in how AI, automation and digital tools can responsibly improve HR and employee experiences.

Responsibilities

• Shape the Finance people agenda, partnering with senior leaders to translate business priorities into clear and actionable people plans.
• Lead organisational design and workforce planning, helping leaders think about structures, skills and capabilities they need now and in the future.
• Support transformation and change, guiding leaders through the people impact of organisational change and embedding new ways of working.
• Coach and influence senior leaders on leadership effectiveness, performance, team dynamics and organisational health.
• Build talent and succession pipelines, identifying critical roles and supporting development, internal mobility and recruitment strategies.
• Use insight to drive decisions, drawing on people data, employee feedback and market intelligence to identify risks and opportunities.
• Partner across our global organisation, connecting priorities across the UK, US and India while recognising different local and cultural needs.
• Bring together the right HR expertise, working with Talent Acquisition, Reward, Employee Relations, Learning and other specialist teams.
• Help us improve how HR works, identifying opportunities to simplify processes and responsibly use digital tools, AI and automation.
• Champion an inclusive, accountable culture where colleagues can contribute, develop and perform at their best.

Skills

HRBP experience

Finance knowledge

Organisational design

Workforce planning

Change management

Stakeholder influence

Multi-country experience

Data-driven decisions

Job description

Lead Specialist, HR Business Partner

Location: London | Hybrid, 2-3 days onsite per week

Business Area: Corporate Functions, Finance

Scope: Global Finance teams across the UK, US and India

About the role

At Pearson, we believe learning has the power to transform lives. We’re looking for an experienced and commercially minded HR Business Partner to help shape the people agenda for our global Finance function.

Working closely with senior Finance leaders, you’ll turn business priorities into practical people strategies that strengthen capability, support transformation and enable high performance.

This is a role with real breadth and influence. You’ll advise and challenge senior stakeholders, lead organisational and workforce planning, support complex change and help build strong talent and succession pipelines. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore how AI, technology and simpler ways of working can improve both the employee experience and the way HR delivers.

If you’re someone who builds credibility quickly, enjoys working through complexity and can move comfortably between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

• Shape the Finance people agenda, partnering with senior leaders to translate business priorities into clear and actionable people plans.
• Lead organisational design and workforce planning, helping leaders think about the structures, skills and capabilities they need now and in the future.
• Support transformation and change, guiding leaders through the people impact of organisational change and helping embed new ways of working.
• Coach and influence senior leaders on leadership effectiveness, performance, team dynamics and organisational health.
• Build talent and succession pipelines, identifying critical roles and capability gaps and supporting development, internal mobility and recruitment strategies.
• Use insight to drive decisions, drawing on people data, employee feedback and market intelligence to identify risks and opportunities.
• Partner across our global organisation, connecting priorities across the UK, US and India while recognising different local and cultural needs.
• Bring together the right HR expertise, working closely with colleagues across Talent Acquisition, Reward, Employee Relations, Learning and other specialist teams.
• Help us improve how HR works, identifying opportunities to simplify processes and responsibly use digital tools, AI and automation.
• Champion an inclusive, accountable culture where colleagues can contribute, develop and perform at their best.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Strong HR business partnering experience gained within a large, complex and international organisation, partnering with senior leaders.
• Experience supporting Finance, Corporate Functions or similarly complex professional teams.
• A track record of translating business priorities into practical people strategies and measurable outcomes.
• Strong experience across organisational design, workforce planning and organisational change.
• The credibility and judgement to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and navigate competing priorities.
• Experience working across different countries, cultures and time zones.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to connect people decisions with wider business, financial and operational priorities.
• Confidence using people data and insight to identify trends and turn findings into clear recommendations.
• An interest in how AI, automation and digital tools can responsibly improve HR and employee experiences.
• A pragmatic and collaborative approach, with the ability to balance long-term thinking with hands-on problem-solving.
• Clear communication skills and confidence handling complex and sensitive conversations.

Why join Pearson?

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact within a global organisation undergoing change and transformation.

You’ll work closely with senior Finance leaders, influence the people agenda across multiple markets and help shape how our organisation builds capability for the future.

At Pearson, you’ll also be part of a business that values learning, inclusion, fresh thinking and continuous improvement, with opportunities to grow your own expertise while helping others do the same.

If you’re excited by the opportunity to combine strategic HR partnering with transformation, commercial thinking and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [e-mail].

Job: Human Resources

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

Organization: Corporate Human Resources

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Hybrid