Senior Business Partner

The Travel Chapter Ltd; Northam; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Travel Chapter Ltd is seeking a Senior People Business Partner for a 12-month fixed-term contract in a hybrid setting (Bideford, North Devon). You will partner with senior leaders to translate our People Strategy into practical actions across the employee lifecycle, delivering commercially focused advice and leading key people initiatives.

You will support acquisitions, TUPE transfers, workforce planning, performance and engagement while coaching leaders to build high‑performing teams.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or 7 or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant Senior People Business Partner experience.
• Experience supporting organisational growth and change, including acquisitions, integrations or TUPE transfers.
• Strong track record delivering People initiatives across ER, engagement, performance and absence management.

Responsibilities

• Act as the most senior People Business Partner in the absence of the Head of People Talent and Operations, providing trusted advice and challenge to senior leaders.
• Lead and support people activity across the full employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, onboarding, performance, talent, succession, reward, engagement and employee relations.
• Manage complex employee relations matters in line with employment law, company policy and best practice.
• Coach and develop leaders to build confident, inclusive and high-performing teams.
• Support organisational change, acquisitions, integrations and TUPE processes.
• Use people data and insight to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Embed People policies, processes and initiatives across the business.
• Lead and contribute to People projects that improve the team member experience and support business objectives.
• Provide guidance and support to the wider People Business Partner team on complex and sensitive matters.
• Provide leadership cover for the Head of People Talent and Operations when required.
• Remain adaptable and solution-focused as business priorities evolve.

Education

CIPD Level 5 or 7

Job description

Senior People Business Partner (12 Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Salary: £65,000 per annum
Location: Bideford, North Devon (Hybrid working)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract
Reporting to: Head of People Talent and Operations

We're looking for an experienced Senior People Business Partner to join our People Team and play a pivotal role in bringing our People Strategy to life across the business. Working closely with senior leaders, managers and team members, you'll provide trusted advice, lead complex people initiatives and support organisational growth, change and integration activity. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded People professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about creating an exceptional experience for team members.

What you'll be doing

As our most senior People Business Partner, you'll work closely with senior leaders, managers and team members to turn our People Strategy into practical action across the full employee lifecycle. You'll provide credible, commercially focused advice, challenge constructively when needed and support leaders to make effective people decisions.

You'll play a key role in supporting organisational change, acquisitions, TUPE transfers and integration activity, helping the business navigate growth while maintaining a positive team member experience. Working as part of a collaborative People Team, you'll also provide guidance and support to People Business Partners and step into leadership responsibilities when required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as the most senior People Business Partner in the absence of the Head of People Talent and Operations, providing trusted advice and challenge to senior leaders.

• Leading and supporting people activity across the full employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, onboarding, performance, talent, succession, reward, engagement and employee relations.

• Managing complex employee relations matters in line with employment law, company policy and best practice.

• Coaching and developing leaders to build confident, inclusive and high-performing teams.

• Supporting organisational change, acquisitions, integrations and TUPE processes.

• Using people data and insight to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Embedding People policies, processes and initiatives across the business.

• Leading and contributing to People projects that improve the team member experience and support business objectives.

• Providing guidance and support to the wider People Business Partner team on complex and sensitive matters.

• Providing leadership cover for the Head of People Talent and Operations when required.

• Remaining adaptable and solution-focused as business priorities evolve.

We're looking for someone who

• Has extensive People Business Partner experience and is confident advising and influencing senior leaders.

• Brings exceptional UK employment law knowledge and applies it in a practical, commercially focused way.

• Has significant experience managing complex employee relations matters.

• Possesses strong TUPE knowledge and ideally has experience supporting acquisitions, integrations and cultural alignment activity.

• Has a proven track record in performance management, talent development, succession planning, absence management and workforce planning.

• Is an excellent communicator and coach, able to build credibility with stakeholders at all levels.

• Demonstrates strong commercial judgement and the ability to turn strategy into practical action.

• Can challenge constructively while maintaining trusted relationships.

• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and embraces continuous improvement.

• Is proactive, resilient and adaptable when priorities change.

• Is curious about AI and interested in using technology, data and innovative approaches to improve People practices and experiences.

What you'll need

• CIPD Level 5, CIPD Level 7 or equivalent professional experience, with CIPD Level 7 preferred.

• Significant Senior People Business Partner experience, ideally within a growing, scaling or multi-site organisation.

• Experience supporting organisational growth and change, including acquisitions, integrations or TUPE transfers.

• A strong track record of delivering People initiatives across employee relations, engagement, performance and absence management.

Why join Travel Chapter?

We're proud to be a B Corp certified, people-first business, bringing together local expertise and innovative technology to create unforgettable holidays.

You'll join a collaborative product environment where your work genuinely makes an impact. We value learning, curiosity, quality and people who take ownership of the work they do.