Senior HR Business Partner

Michael Page; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page is recruiting a Senior HR Business Partner to lead the people agenda across a network of operational sites, partnering with senior leaders to drive performance, capability and engagement. Based in Peterborough, the role involves regular travel to Midlands and North sites and coaching managers to build strong leadership and HR capability.

Reporting to Head of HR, you will shape culture, support organisational change, manage employee relations, and develop an HR team to deliver

Qualifications

• Significant HR Business Partnering experience across multi-site operations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Proven track record coaching managers and developing leadership capability.
• Experience handling complex employee relations matters.
• Knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Ability to drive organisation-wide change and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, target-driven environments.
• Automotive sector experience is advantageous but not required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior operational leaders to drive performance through people strategies.
• Coach and develop managers to enhance leadership capability.
• Act as the senior HR lead across multiple sites.
• Support employee engagement, retention and organisational development initiatives.
• Lead and advise on complex employee relations matters and escalations.
• Provide guidance on performance management, absence, disciplinaries, grievances and change.
• Support HR systems, processes and wider people projects.
• Develop and lead a team of HR Administrators.
• Build strong relationships with site General Managers and leadership teams.
• Travel regularly across sites in Peterborough and other Midlands/North locations.

Skills

HR Business Partnering

Stakeholder Management

Coaching & Development

Employee Relations

Organisational Change

Employment Law

Multi-site Operations

Performance Management

People Leadership

Job description

We are recruiting a Senior HR Business Partner to lead the people agenda across a network of operational sites, partnering with senior leaders to drive performance, capability, and engagement. This is a highly visible role offering the opportunity to shape culture, coach managers, develop an HR team, and influence business strategy within a fast-paced, multi-site environment.

Client Details

Our client is a well-established UK business operating across multiple locations, employing a large operational workforce within fast-paced, target-driven environments. Following a period of growth and organisational change, the business is investing further in its people function and is looking to appoint an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to support operations across several key sites.

The organisation offers a hands-on, commercially focused environment where HR plays an integral role in supporting managers, improving capability, driving engagement, and delivering operational performance. This role is based in Peterborough and will involve regular travel to sites across the Midlands and North of England.

Description

Reporting to the Head of HR, the Senior HR Business Partner will provide strategic and operational HR support across a portfolio of operational sites while acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders. The role will focus on developing management capability, driving people initiatives, supporting organisational change, and ensuring managers are equipped to effectively lead their teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partnering with senior operational leaders to drive business performance through effective people strategies.
• Coaching and developing managers to improve leadership capability and people management skills.
• Acting as the senior HR lead across multiple operational sites.
• Supporting employee engagement, retention, and organisational development initiatives.
• Leading and advising on complex employee relations matters and escalations.
• Providing guidance on performance management, absence, disciplinaries, grievances, and organisational change.
• Supporting HR systems, process improvements, and wider people projects.
• Working closely with and developing a team of HR Administrators.
• Building strong relationships with site General Managers and leadership teams.
• Travelling regularly across sites in Peterborough, Warrington, Leeds, Sheffield, Cannock, and other operational locations.

The role will be primarily based in Peterborough, with the expectation of spending the majority of the week on-site, alongside regular regional travel and occasional homeworking.

Profile

The successful candidate will be an experienced HR Business Partner with a strong background supporting operational or blue-copper workforces.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant HR Business Partnering experience
• Experience supporting multi-site operational environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A proven track record of coaching and developing managers.
• Experience supporting complex employee relations matters.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Confidence working in fast-paced, target-driven environments.
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting organisational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• The credibility to challenge senior stakeholders where appropriate.
• Experience within the automotive sector would be highly advantageous, although candidates from broader operational environments will also be considered.

Job Offer

• Competitive salary of £60,000 to £65,000 dependent on the level of experience.
• Permanent role offering stability and growth in the retail industry.
• Opportunity to make a significant impact in a senior HR role