People & Culture Business Partner

Kraken Robotic Systems Inc.; St Stephen's Green; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraken Robotics is recruiting a People & Culture Business Partner to support strategic HR initiatives from our Blackbushe, United Kingdom Office. You will coach managers, lead employee relations and performance processes, and drive culture and engagement programs, aligned with business priorities.

Your role encompasses talent development, compensation processes, policy interpretation, and workforce planning, delivering practical people solutions in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Progressive HR experience with emphasis on employee relations, performance management, and talent development.
• Strong knowledge of HR laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Experience supporting engagement, lifecycle, and manager coaching.
• Ability to work independently, handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to quality, health, safety and environment.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical people solutions and coaching to managers.
• Assist with employee relations, performance management, and policy interpretation.
• Support engagement, retention, and employee experience initiatives.
• Coordinate People & Culture programs and annual processes (reviews, compensation cycles).
• Escalate complex issues to the P&C Manager and follow through on actions.
• Collaborate with Centres of Excellence to deliver coordinated solutions.

Skills

HR policy

employee relations

performance mgmt

talent development

coaching managers

compliance

MS Office

communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/BA

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Build your career with Kraken Robotics. Make a difference to others. If innovation drives you, and you want a career that makes a difference to the world, helping humanity overcome the challenges in our oceans – safely, efficiently, and sustainably – then come join us at Kraken Robotics.

Kraken Robotics is currently recruiting for a People & Culture Business Partner to join our Blackbushe, United Kingdom Office.

The People & Culture Business Partner supports assigned business groups by delivering practical people solutions, coaching managers, and helping implement People & Culture programs aligned with business needs. Working under the guidance of the People & Culture Manager, Business Partnering, this role provides day-to-day support across employee relations, performance management, engagement, workforce planning, compliance, and employee experience initiatives.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic HR Support:

• Support assigned leaders and teams with the implementation of people plans, programs, and processes aligned with business priorities.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees on people-related matters including employee relations, performance management, policy interpretation, compensation processes, and talent development.
• Assist with initiatives that improve employee engagement, retention, productivity, and overall employee experience.
• Support delivery of People & Culture programs and annual processes, including performance reviews, compensation cycles, engagement activities, and policy rollouts.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to the People & Culture Manager while maintaining timely follow-through on assigned actions.
• Collaborate with People & Culture Centres of Excellence to deliver coordinated solutions that address and support the business needs and priorities.

Culture & Employee Engagement:

• Promote a positive organizational culture by implementing programs and initiatives that enhance employee experience and morale.
• Support culture and change management activities by helping leaders communicate changes and reinforce the company’s values and expected behaviours.
• Contribute to initiatives that support inclusion, belonging, wellbeing, and positive employee experience.
• Support employee forums as required by helping coordinate and facilitate meetings, capture employee feedback, and follow up on agreed actions to promote meaningful employee voice and engagement.

Talent Management & Development:

• Support talent discussions, development planning, and succession planning activities by gathering information, documenting outcomes, and following up on agreed actions.
• Assist with job levelling, role documentation, and compensation processes by providing inputs, analysis, and administrative support as required.
• Support employees and managers through key stages of the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, probation reviews, internal movement, performance, development, and offboarding.
• Coordinate or facilitate training and development activities that improve manager capability and employee performance.
• Coach managers on performance management fundamentals, documentation expectations, and development planning.

Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution:

• Lead the resolution of employee relations matters by gathering and assessing information, advising stakeholders, documenting issues and outcomes, attending formal meetings as the P& C representative as required, and ensuring compliance with employment standards, company policies, and best practices.
• Provide coaching and support to managers and employees on workplace concerns, escalating sensitive or complex matters as appropriate.
• Lead sickness absence management by advising managers and employees, monitoring cases, making Occupational Health referrals, advising on return-to-work and accommodation plans, maintaining appropriate documentation, and ensuring consistent application of company policies and legal requirements.

HR Metrics & Reporting:

• Review and summarize people data and metrics to identify trends and support informed decision-making.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and recommendations to support follow-up on people-related trends and issues.

Change Management & Organizational Development:

• Support organizational development efforts and change initiatives.
• Assist leaders with change communication, adoption planning, and employee feedback during organizational changes.

Compliance & Policy Development:

• Provide guidance on employment standards, labour regulations, and internal policies, seeking support on complex compliance matters as required.
• Contribute to the review, communication, and consistent application of People & Culture policies, procedures, and practices.

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Several years of progressive experience in human resources or a related field, preferably with exposure to employee relations, performance management, talent development, and organizational support.
• Strong knowledge of HR laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Experience supporting employee engagement, performance management, employee lifecycle, and manager coaching activities.
• Ability to work independently, be resourceful, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Possess the highest regard for quality, health, safety, and environment.
• High level of computer proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
• Certification in HR (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is preferred but not required.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Relationship Building and Communication:

• A collaborative and empathetic partner who builds strong relationships and works effectively with managers, employees, and People & Culture colleagues.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively across the organization.
• Ability to coach and influence managers to promote consistent, fair, and effective people practices.

Analysis and Decision-Making:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to develop practical and innovative solutions to business challenges.
• Ability to understand business strategy and context, ask relevant questions, and align people solutions and problem-solving approaches with organizational priorities.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make decisions that reflect a global perspective and support collaboration across functions and geographical boundaries.

Integrity and Accountability:

• High integrity and a strong commitment to upholding compliance requirements, organizational policies, and company values.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters and prioritize competing projects effectively.

Change Management:

• Ability to support change management initiatives using a practical, employee-focused approach.