Strategic HR Business Partner — Hybrid & Leadership

Cowi; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

COWI is seeking an HR Business Partner to work from Derby or Glasgow, hybrid with occasional travel to other UK offices. You will partner with senior leaders to implement people strategy across the UK & Ireland and drive leadership effectiveness, employee engagement and performance improvements.

You will shape organisational capability, support talent development, ensure policy consistency, and contribute to change, acquisitions and post-acquisition activities as required.

Qualifications

• Significant HR/P&O Business Partner experience within a complex organisation.
• Experience working with leaders to provide guidance, support, and shape key decisions.
• Extensive knowledge of employee relations and experience handling complex cases.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK employment law.
• Ability to interpret people data and provide meaningful business insight.
• Highly developed skills in communication, building relationships, and managing stakeholders.
• Experience supporting acquisition and integration activities.
• Fully CIPD qualified/chartered member or equivalent
• Solid communication, persuasion and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted advisor to business leaders on all people-related matters.
• Partner with leaders to align people priorities with business objectives and support the implementation of the COWI People Strategy across the business.
• Translate business needs into practical people solutions that enhance organisational performance.
• Coach and support leaders to build leadership capability and effectiveness, including onboarding and development of new leaders.
• Facilitate leadership development initiatives in line with the COWI Leadership Pipeline.
• Challenge and shape leadership behaviours to promote a high-performance culture.
• Support talent reviews, initiatives and succession planning activities to support growth and retention.
• Provide guidance on performance management processes and capability development.
• Support leaders with employee engagement initiatives and action planning activities.
• Manage complex employee relations matters with risk-based advice in line with legislation.
• Support organisational change and consultation processes where required.
• Ensure a fair, consistent and pragmatic approach to employee relations
• Support organisational design and change programmes, ensuring effective communication and change management practices.
• Provide people support during acquisitions and post-acquisition integration activities.
• Analyse people data and provide insight to support business decision-making.
• Monitor attrition, engagement, absence and performance trends.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and governance requirements.
• Support implementation of global people processes and initiatives.

Skills

HR Business Partner

Leadership coaching

Employee relations

UK employment law

Data interpretation

Stakeholder management

Acquisition integration

Change management

People analytics

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

COWI is seeking an HR Business Partner to work from Derby or Glasgow, hybrid with occasional travel to other UK offices. You will partner with senior leaders to implement people strategy across the UK & Ireland and drive leadership effectiveness, employee engagement and performance improvements.

You will shape organisational capability, support talent development, ensure policy consistency, and contribute to change, acquisitions and post-acquisition activities as required.