Senior People Partner & Professional Standards Lead

Networking Women in the Fire Service; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fire and rescue service is seeking a Senior People Partner to drive employee relations and professional standards. You will manage complex issues and build stakeholder relationships while ensuring strategic alignment. A CIPD level 7 qualification is required. This role offers a competitive benefits package, including flexible working arrangements and a supportive culture.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Car salary sacrifice scheme

Free parking

Access to on-site gym

Training and development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in managing complex employee relations issues, including consultations with trade unions.
• Experience in building and managing successful stakeholder relationships.
• Understanding of HR best practices and employment law.

Responsibilities

• Lead professional people partnering function across the service.
• Focus on employee relations matters and professional standards.

Skills

Managing employee relations issues

Building relationships with stakeholders

Business partnering approach

Influencing across all organizational levels

Education

CIPD level 7 or equivalent qualification

Job description

Join West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and make a real difference to our service and our communities.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of the UK’s leading fire and rescue services, playing a vital role in making West Yorkshire safer. At West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), we believe everyone has a part to play, and we are looking for a dynamic and compassionate people professional to join our team.

As Senior People Partner and Professional Standards lead, you’ll be at the heart of our service, helping to drive the success of over 1,450 dedicated colleagues who work tirelessly to help people and save lives. This role offers the unique job satisfaction of knowing that you are directly contributing to the safety and wellbeing of the people of West Yorkshire.

What you’ll do:

Reporting to the Head of People and Culture, you’ll lead the professional people partnering function across the Service with particular focus on employee relations matters and professional standards.

What we’re looking for:

We’re seeking a compassionate, value-based people professional with a proven track record of Leading, reviewing, and evolving business partnering arrangements to maximise people service and solution delivery whilst ensuring strategic alignment, influence and efficiency.

What you’ll bring:

· Experience of managing complex employee relations issues, including direct personal leadership of consultation with trade unions.

· Experience of building and managing successful relationships with Stakeholders, both internal and external, and working at a strategic level representing the Organisation.

· A strong business partnering approach and the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organisation

· CIPD level 7 (or equivalent) qualification and a thorough understanding of current HR best practices and employment law

What we offer:

In return for your expertise and dedication, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

· A fantastic newly built Headquarters working environment

· A Local Government Pension Scheme

· Car salary sacrifice scheme

· Free parking and access to an on-site gym

· Flexible working arrangements

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Training, development opportunities, and sports and social clubs

At WYFRS, we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive culture, and we’re looking for someone who will lead by example, embrace our values, and champion continuous learning.

For further details of this and all our vacancies and to apply online please visit www.wyfs.co.uk/careers

Closing date for all applications is midnight on Sunday 7th September 2025, with interviews taking place on Thursday 18th / Friday 19th September 2025.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we value and celebrate equality, diversity & neurodiversity and inclusion. We particularly welcome candidates from communities that are currently under-represented at WYFRS, including women, racially & ethnically diverse applicants and applicants with disabilities. We can offer support and adjustments for candidates and staff who experience barriers to work that result from health conditions or Specific Learning Differences, such as dyslexia.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service are committed to the safeguarding of our staff, volunteers, visitors and the community that we serve. This includes protecting vulnerable adults and children and young people from potential neglect and harm. All employees must share the same commitment.