Operational Business Partnering - People Advisor Ops

Whitbread; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job description

People Advisor - Operations

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 + benefits

Location: Dunstable, hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office), occasional travel and overnight stays across the UK

Whitbread, the home of Premier Inn and other popular restaurant brands, is seeking a People Advisor to support our Hotel and Restaurant management teams across 600 sites in the UK. This role involves working closely with regional People Partners to provide generalist advice, coaching, and upskilling to line managers.

You will collaborate with our wider People team at Dunstable, including Reward, L&D, Resourcing, and other central functions, to deliver a proactive, commercial service aligned with our people strategy, enhancing the guest experience.

Why you'll love it here:

• Bonus: Annual Whitbread performance incentive up to 10% of base salary

• Healthcare: BUPA healthcare cover

• Discounts: Up to 60% on Premier Inn stays and 25% on restaurant brands

• Pension: Up to 10% matched, 25 days holiday, and a Share Save scheme

What you'll do:

• Act as a business partner to hotel and restaurant management teams, providing generalist HR advice on systems, processes, induction, and development.

• Support cyclical HR activities such as reviews, pay and talent assessments, and engagement surveys, working with centers of excellence.

• Serve as a liaison between operational teams and HR specialists, including Employee Relations, Occupational Health, and Recruitment.

• Support ER case management and coach managers in performance and capability conversations.

• Own and update the People Plan, and coordinate agendas and minutes for key meetings.

What we need:

• Experience in a generalist HR role within a large, multi-site operational business, preferably in hospitality, retail, leisure, or tourism.

• Understanding of ER policies and UK employment law; studying or interest in CIPD qualification is desirable.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders.

• Flexible, adaptable, and capable of managing own workload amidst changing priorities.

• Self-motivated, proactive, with the confidence to challenge and make objective recommendations.

Join our HR team at Whitbread, where our people are at the core of creating memorable guest experiences. We are committed to attracting, developing, and supporting our talent to ensure everyone can thrive—individuals, teams, guests, and brands alike.