Senior Human Resources Business Partner

The Adecco Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Adecco Group is seeking a Senior HR Business Partner to provide immediate hands-on HR leadership across a multi-site distribution operation in Manchester. You will partner with senior leaders to shape people plans, drive workforce and budget planning, and deliver key HR initiatives with a pragmatic, business-focused approach.

The role requires experience as a Senior HR BP in complex settings, ideally with distribution/logistics exposure, and a strong track record in workforce planning and

Qualifications

• Senior HR Business Partner experience in a complex, fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience in distribution, logistics, manufacturing, or FMCG sectors preferable.
• Strong background in workforce planning, organisational design, change and talent management.
• Comfortable working with headcount data, budgets and senior stakeholders.
• Confident influencer able to establish trust and navigate ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior leaders to translate business priorities into a focused people plan.
• Lead strategic workforce and headcount planning across distribution centres and sites.
• Deliver a defined people project coordinating stakeholders for practical outcomes.
• Oversee HR data management and analytics to inform strategic decisions.
• Support organisational design and change initiatives to improve operations.
• Partner with HR and Finance leadership on budgets, forecasting and resource allocation.
• Strengthen the talent agenda through succession planning and development.
• Coach and influence senior leaders with sound judgement in a complex environment.

Skills

Senior HRBP

Workforce planning

Organisational design

Change management

Stakeholder management

HR analytics

Influencing skills

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

Senior HR Business Partner (3/4 month contract , Until January 2027)

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

Contract Type: Temporary (3/4 months)

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 a 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.