Senior HR Business Partner - Talent focused

Oakleaf Partnership; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy in London seeks an experienced People Partnering & Talent Manager to drive organisational effectiveness and cultural transformation. This strategic role involves partnering with senior leaders, designing a people strategy, and leading the entire talent lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have extensive HR Business Partnering experience and a CIPD Level 7 qualification. Competitive salary package offered, including a bonus.

Qualifications

• Extensive HR Business Partnering experience, ideally within a complex or regulated environment.
• Proven success in talent strategy, succession planning, and workforce design.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing and coaching HR professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of a forward‑looking people plan aligned with organisational goals.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, influencing workforce, succession, and organisational design decisions.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, engagement, and inclusion.
• Lead the full talent lifecycle – from attraction and selection to onboarding and retention.
• Drive strategic workforce planning, identifying future capability needs and succession gaps.

Skills

HR Business Partnering experience

Talent strategy

Succession planning

Stakeholder management

Communication abilities

Leadership skills

Data-driven mindset

Education

CIPD Level 7 qualification

Job description

• up to £85,000 + 5-10% bonus


• Permanent


• Hybrid - 3 days on site, central London


• ASAP start

Are you passionate about shaping the future of talent strategy and people capability? This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced People Partnering & Talent Manager to take a leading role in driving organisational effectiveness, workforce planning, and cultural transformation within a purpose‑led organisation. In this strategic position, you’ll partner with senior leaders to design and deliver a people strategy that empowers growth, builds, and ensures the organisation is equipped for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic People Leadership
  
  
  
  • Lead the design and delivery of a forward‑looking people plan aligned with organisational goals.
  
  
  • Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, influencing workforce, succession, and organisational design decisions.
  
  
  • Champion a culture of continuous improvement, engagement, and inclusion.
  
  
  • Deputise for the Head of People when required, playing a key role in shaping people and culture strategy.
  
  
  
  


• Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning
  
  
  
  • Lead the full talent lifecycle – from attraction and selection to onboarding and retention.
  
  
  • Build and implement an employer brand that supports diverse and inclusive hiring.
  
  
  • Drive strategic workforce planning, identifying future capability needs and succession gaps.
  
  
  • Partner with business leaders to create talent pipelines and leadership development initiatives.
  
  
  
  


• Organisational Capability & Development
  
  
  
  • Work closely with Organisational Development specialists to align capability and learning initiatives to strategic priorities.
  
  
  • Use people analytics to drive insight‑led decisions and measure impact across talent initiatives.
  
  
  • Lead on succession planning, identifying and developing high‑potential talent across the organisation.
  
  
  
  


• Reward, Performance & Governance
  
  
  
  • Oversee performance management frameworks and job evaluation processes.
  
  
  • Ensure reward structures and benchmarking remain competitive and fair.
  
  
  • Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of employment law and HR governance, ensuring compliance and best practice.
  
  
  
  

About You

You’ll be a forward‑thinking people leader with the credibility and confidence to influence at senior level. You’ll thrive in a role that blends strategic partnering with hands‑on delivery.

What we’re looking for:

• Extensive HR Business Partnering experience, ideally within a complex or regulated environment.


• Proven success in talent strategy, succession planning, and workforce design.


• Strong leadership skills with experience developing and coaching HR professionals.


• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities.


• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) qualification.


• Data‑driven mindset with the ability to translate insights into actionable strategy.