People Business Partner

QBE Europe; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance provider is seeking a People Business Partner to drive HR strategy and support business leaders in Leeds. This hybrid role involves building relationships, managing change projects, and advising on people practices. The ideal candidate has HR qualifications, strong relationship management skills, and experience in transformation initiatives. Join an inclusive culture with generous benefits.

Benefits

30 days holiday, with option to buy 2 additional days

Flexible working options

10% pension contribution

Private medical insurance

Family-friendly policies

Remote work abroad up to 20 days

Cycle-to-Work benefit up to £5,000

Qualifications

• Proven experience supporting or leading transformation initiatives.
• Ability to understand and interpret customer needs related to HR disciplines.
• Excellent understanding of best practices in HR management.

Responsibilities

• Build effective relationships with business leaders to deliver value as a Business Partner.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders on people-related issues.
• Manage people activities in business change projects.

Skills

Exposure to Insurance/Reinsurance

Relationship management

Change management

Strategic thinking

Education

CIPD qualification

Post-graduate HR experience

Job description

Overview

People Business Partner

London or Leeds/ Hybrid

We are recruiting for a People (HR) Business Partner to join our European Operations division and focus on partnering with our International Technology Division. Working closely with our Senior PBP, you will help deliver our people, culture and organisational priorities for Technology as well as supporting in delivering the operational people agenda. In this role, you will collaborate closely with our specialist centres of excellence including Reward, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition etc within our well-established People function.

As a People Business Partner, you’ll be partnering closely with our Chief Information Officer within the Technology division, supporting our ambitious modernisation plans designed to drive innovation and efficiency across the broader organisation. This role sits within a collaborative and dedicated people team, where your expertise will help shape the future of our operations. You’ll benefit from our flexible, pragmatic hybrid working approach, typically spending around one to three days per week in the office, just as our current arrangements stand.

Your New Role

• Build strong and effective relationships with business leaders and develop a deep knowledge and understanding of key business priorities, issues, and challenges to deliver and add value as a commercially focused Business Partner

• Act as a trusted advisor, providing direction and support whilst confidently challenging leaders to drive the right outcomes

• Manage and drive ‘people’ activity in business related change projects i.e. acquisitions, restructures, etc. to identify and ensure any people issues are appropriately considered by the business in both design and implementation

• Coach, educate and support business leaders on complex ER issues and projects ensuring that practical, flexible and commercial solutions are determined

• Acquire business intelligence by developing knowledge and understanding of your business area and its strategies, people priorities and challenges

• Support in executing the People strategy and plan; to actively drive the people agenda through QBE International business areas and ensure people management practices are effective and compliant

• Use People insights to develop strategies to reduce risks, influence costs efficacy and to address people related priorities, issues and challenges

• Successfully manage annual processes for respective business areas (e.g. compensation review, performance, headcount and people cost budgeting etc..) to ensure effective and compliant application

• Identify and communicate potential people issues and opportunities to influence the business to recognise and take appropriate action

About You

• Exposure to Insurance/Reinsurance or financial services business

• Professionally qualified CIPD and/or post-graduate HR / People experience

• Ability to understand and interpret customer needs with respect to relevant HR discipline whilst delivering high-quality services to internal customers

• Excellent understanding of best practice in HR management and the local employment marketplace

• Broad technical HR knowledge with exposure to change management disciplines

• Relationship management and influencing skills

• Proven experience supporting or leading transformation initiatives

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate business goals into people priorities and actionable plans

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity, with a proactive approach to shaping organisational change

• Ability to challenge constructively and guide senior leaders to make people decisions that drive long-term success

• Skilled in using people insights and data to inform strategy, influence outcomes, and support continuous improvement

Why QBE? At My Best

At QBE, we want our people to feel rewarded and inspired to perform at their best, that’s why we have created “At My Best”. It’s our connection, our way of showing we have your back. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all and that priorities can change depending on your life stage. That is why our blend of wellbeing initiatives and benefits offer flexibility to suit what matters most to you. It’s in the culture of our business, our QBE DNA, to support our people. Everything we do is underpinned by our QBE DNA.

We’re an international insurer that’s building momentum towards realising our vision of becoming the most consistent and innovative risk partner. We can never really predict what’s around the corner, but at QBE we’re asking the right questions to enable a more resilient future – helping those around us build strength and embrace change to their advantage.

QBE aims to build a workplace that is fair and inclusive because we want to attract and retain the best people to do the job, we have adopted flexible working across the company and welcome this conversation.

With more than 13,000 people working across 27 countries, we’re big enough to make a real impact, but small enough to provide a friendly workplace, where people are down-to-earth, passionate, and kind.

To find out more about why you should work for QBE, visit our Careers Page.

Benefits

• 30 days holiday a year with the option to buy up to 2 additional days.

• Flexible working - balancing work and life with options such as part-time, job share and compressed hours.

• Pension – automatic enrolment with employer contributions of 10% of basic salary.

• Private medical insurance – comprehensive cover for you and your family.

• Family friendly policies – 26 weeks leave at full pay regardless of gender identity or how you become a parent.

• Short term remote work abroad – up to 20 days per year to work remotely from certain locations abroad.

• Sustainable investing – pension strategy supports net-zero goals with green investments.

• Cycle-to-Work – benefit up to £5,000 for bike and accessories.

To find out more visit our Reward Page

What next?

If you have a passion to contribute to QBE’s vision, apply by submitting your CV and documents. A member of our Talent Acquisition team will be in contact if you meet the requirements.

APPLY NOW and let’s make it happen!

Equal Employment Opportunity

QBE is an equal opportunity employer and complies with equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction it operates.