People Business Partner - Maternity cover

Take Up The Cross; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading furniture retailer is looking for a People Partner to enhance their HR strategy and support their teams across southern stores. This role involves building strong relationships with managers, coaching on performance, and promoting inclusive workplace culture. The ideal candidate will have CIPD membership and a strategic HR background. This position offers generous perks including holiday allowance and discounts at popular brands.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Employee discounts

Healthcare access

Group Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Experience in employee relations, talent management, and succession planning.
• Strong ability to foster an inclusive workplace culture.
• Proven track record in coaching and developing leaders.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with business leaders to implement people strategy.
• Coach managers through performance conversations.
• Identify trends using data to inform HR strategies.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Coaching skills

Data-driven decision making

Proactive mindset

Communication skills

Education

CIPD membership or equivalent experience

Job description

Your new role

As a People Partner, you will join Sofology's vibrant People team, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team to shape and deliver a compelling people strategy. This is a field-based role where you will spend most of your time visiting our southern stores and supporting leaders on the ground. You will be a trusted advisor, combining commercial acumen with a passion for culture and colleague experience. You will collaborate across Centres of Excellence and the wider HR community to ensure best practices in inclusion, learning, internal communications, and employee relations. Your impact will be felt throughout the colleague journey, from hiring to performance.

A day in the life of

• Building strong relationships with business leaders to implement the people plan, balancing current priorities with long-term goals.
• Coaching managers through ER cases, performance conversations, and team development.
• Using data and insights to identify trends and inform decisions.
• Collaborating with other People Partners and HR specialists on initiatives.
• Supporting transformation programmes such as restructures, organisational design, and culture change.
• Promoting wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, and talent initiatives to maintain an exceptional workplace.

In an ideal world

You are someone who lives and breathes Sofology's values, with a blend of strategic HR experience and a genuine passion for people. Ideally, you will have:

• CIPD membership or equivalent experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management and coaching skills.
• A proven background in ER, talent, succession, and reward.
• Confidence in using data to inform strategy and decisions.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with great communication skills.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, positive workplace culture.

Pay & Perks

• Growth and Training: Opportunities to learn new skills and develop your career.
• Leave: Generous holiday allowance, with options to buy extra days, plus enhanced leave for family and a paid volunteering day annually.
• Discounts: 30% off DFS and Sofology products, plus discounts at brands like Sainsbury's, ASOS, and IKEA.
• Wellbeing Perks: Access to healthcare, Employee Assistance Programme, and discounted gym memberships.
• Pension and Savings: Group Pension and Sharesave schemes.
• Life Assurance & Sick Pay: Peace of mind with Life Assurance and Sick Pay.

A Little Bit About Sofology

We are a fun, proud team dedicated to crafting an unrivalled sofa experience that leaves our customers and Sofologists in awe. Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

• Roll Out The Red Carpet - Providing a Very Important Customer experience, from browsing to buying and beyond.
• A Seat for Everyone - Embracing diversity to make us stronger.
• Bold By Design - Being courageous, ambitious, and striving for more.

If you want to join us on the sofa, apply now to save your seat!