Senior HR Business Partner (Interim Assignment)

Adecco Portugal; Manchester; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Adecco is recruiting a Senior HR Business Partner on an interim basis for a Manchester-based multi-site distribution operation. Travel to Nottingham and London as required, 37.5 hours per week, with a temporary 3-month contract and a daily rate of £265–£270.

The role requires delivering hands-on support, translating priorities into people plans, and partnering with senior leaders to drive workforce strategy and organisational change.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior HR Business Partner in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Ideally experience in distribution, logistics, manufacturing, or FMCG sectors.
• Strong background in workforce planning, organisational design, change, and talent management.
• Commercially astute with headcount data, budgets, and senior stakeholders.
• CIPD qualified or equivalent senior HR experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior operational leaders to translate business priorities into a focused people plan.
• Lead strategic workforce and headcount planning across distribution centres, identifying future capability and resourcing needs.
• Deliver a defined people project, coordinating stakeholders and driving practical, sustainable outcomes.
• Oversee data management and analytics for HR, informing strategic decision-making.
• Support organisational design and change initiatives to improve operational effectiveness.
• Partner with HR and Finance leadership on workforce budgets, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Strengthen the talent agenda through succession planning, development, attraction, retention, learning, and inclusion.
• Coach and influence senior leaders with sound judgement in a complex environment.

Skills

Senior HRBP

Stakeholder management

HR analytics

Budgeting

Education

CIPD qualified

Job description

Senior HR Business Partner (Interim Assignment)

Location: Based in Manchester (with travel to Nottingham and London as required)

Contract Type: Temporary (3 months)

Daily Rate: £265 - £270

Working Pattern: Full Time 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to provide immediate, hands-on support within a dynamic, multi-site physical distribution operation. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual ready to make a significant impact from day one! The ideal candidate will quickly build trusted relationships, understand operational priorities, and offer stability and direction to the leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior operational leaders to translate business priorities into a focused people plan.


• Lead strategic workforce and headcount planning across distribution centres, identifying future capability and resourcing needs.


• Deliver a defined people project, coordinating stakeholders and driving practical, sustainable outcomes.


• Oversee data management and analytics for physical distribution HR, leveraging insights to inform strategic decision-making and drive key HR initiatives.


• Support organisational design and change initiatives aimed at improving operational effectiveness.


• Partner with HR and Finance leadership on workforce budgets, forecasting, and resource allocation.


• Strengthen the talent agenda through succession planning, capability development, attraction, retention, learning, and inclusion.


• Coach and influence senior leaders, applying sound judgement and a pragmatic approach in complex environment.

About You

• Proven experience as a Senior HR Business Partner in a complex, fast-paced operational environment.


• Ideally, experience within distribution, logistics, manufacturing, or FMCG sectors.


• Strong background in workforce planning, organisational design, change, and talent management.


• Commercially astute and comfortable working with headcount data, budgets, and senior stakeholders.


• A confident and credible influencer, capable of quickly establishing trust and navigating ambiguity.


• Highly organised, resilient, and adept at balancing strategic priorities with hands-on delivery.


• Ideally CIPD qualified, or able to demonstrate equivalent senior-level HR experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Rapidly establishing trusted relationships across the Manchester and wider operational teams.


• Providing clear people insights and practical leadership support.


• Making tangible progress on the agreed people project.


• Strengthening headcount, workforce, and budget planning for the distribution centres.

Adecco is a disability-confident employer.

It is important to us that we run an inclusive and accessible recruitment process to support candidates of all backgrounds and all abilities to apply. Adecco is committed to building a supportive environment for you to explore the next steps in your career. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

Adecco is an Equal Opportunities Employer.