People Partner

Cornerstone; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Performance bonus

BUPA Healthcare

Maternity/paternity pay

Life assurance

Holiday Plus

Cycle2work

Pension scheme

Job summary

Cornerstone in Edinburgh is seeking a proactive People Partner to support employees and managers, lead on employee relations, and contribute to People projects across Scotland.

The role is hybrid: four days at a depot with one remote day; benefits include pension, healthcare, and a car allowance, plus a performance bonus and enhanced family leave.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a People Partner, HR Manager, Employee Relations Specialist, or similar role.
• Established knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on ER cases.
• Experience in a unionised multi-site field-based organisation with frontline staff.
• Strong generalist operational HR experience and relationship building.
• Proven ability to deliver manager training and coaching.
• Experience with organisational change and GDPR awareness.

Responsibilities

• Actively manage employee relations cases across multi-site teams.
• Provide expert HR guidance to managers on policies and law.
• Support ER cases to ensure fairness and reduce volume through coaching.
• Develop and deliver manager training on HR topics.
• Coordinate projects with Senior People Partners during restructuring.
• Work with Trade Union partners to strengthen relationships.
• Maintain accurate employee records and GDPR-compliant reports.

Skills

Employee relations

Communication

Stakeholder management

Numeracy

Relationship building

Problem solving

Education

CIPD Level 5 or above

Job description

People Partner

Edinburgh

£50k – 55k per annum (dependent on skills and qualifications) + Car Allowance & Performance bonus

Full time | Hybrid 4 days Depot based 1-day Remote working

Competitive pension scheme – Car Allowance – Performance Based Bonus Scheme – BUPA Healthcare - Enhanced maternity/paternity pay – Life assurance – HolidayPlus – Cycle2work Scheme & more

REQ5900

We are looking for a proactive and experienced People Partner. You will be key to fostering a positive Employee Relations climate, providing expert advice to managers across the business, improving employee engagement and business performance. You will lead on employee relations cases, delivering training & coaching to reduce future ER issues and contribute to People projects, continuous improvement and nurturing emerging talent.

You will provide vital support to the Senior People Partners, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives.

You will partner directly with operational teams based across Scotland, with a focus on Edinburgh and Dundee.

Responsibilities

• Actively manage employee relations cases, including grievances, disciplinaries, performance management and absence management across multi-site operational teams
• Providing expert advice and guidance to managers across the business on People policies, procedures and best practise, ensuring full compliance with employment law
• Support managers in ER cases to ensure procedural fairness and work proactively to reduce case volume through early intervention and coaching
• Develop and deliver training and coaching sessions for managers on essential HR topics such as performance management and absence management, equipping managers with the knowledge to confidently handle routine ER cases
• Providing project coordination and admin/logistical support to Senior People Partners during organisational restructuring initiatives
• Working with Trade Union partners to strengthen relationships
• Maintaining accurate employee records and data and preparing People team reports and metrics as required, ensuring GDPR compliance

We deliver safety, warmth, and comfort to homes and businesses. Every role, whether in the office or on the front line, plays a key part in this mission. Here’s how you will contribute…

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a People Partner, HR Manager, Employee Relations Specialist, or similar role
• You have established knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• Experience managing employee relations cases and advising senior stakeholders
• Effective partnering experience within a unionised multi-site field based organisation with a significant number of frontline staff
• Expertise in generalist operational/tactical HR issues
• Able to build positive professional relationships
• Proven experience developing and delivering manager training and coaching
• Exposure to organisational change
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• You are commercially aware and highly numerate
• Resilient, and adept at managing uncertainty and ambiguity, with the ability to pivot in repose to shifting priorities or ways of working
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across various business areas

Preferred Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or above (or equivalent experience)

You will have to travel between business area sites across Scotland. This will involve the need to spend occasional nights away from home. A full UK driving license & personal vehicle will be required.

Not sure you meet every requirement?

Research shows some people – particularly women and those from underrepresented backgrounds – may hesitate to apply unless they meet every criteria. At SGN, we value diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, reach out to us. We're here to help ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for everyone.

Why SGN?

SGN is a leader in pioneering research and development toward a net‑zero energy system. Our cutting‑edge technologies and innovative thinking are driving change in the gas industry, all while keeping people safe and warm.