Senior HR Business Partner in Farnborough

Welcome to AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr. Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. From above 60,000+ ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.

AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities. Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.

Job Purpose: The Senior HR Business Partner plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering AALTO’s people strategy, combining hands‑on partnership with high‑impact, employee‑focused, and commercially aligned HR support. This role requires deep HR expertise, strong relationship‑building capability, and a proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset to drive organisational performance, foster a high‑trust leadership culture, and enable the ongoing evolution of the business. As a trusted advisor to leaders across the organisation (primarily in the UK and Kenya), you will champion change, strengthen people processes, enhance employee engagement, and support capability and workforce development. You will balance strategic influence with operational excellence - navigating ambiguity with confidence and driving initiatives that directly contribute to AALTO’s long‑term success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior leaders and managers to shape, influence, and deliver the overarching people strategy.
• Use data, insights, and workforce metrics to identify people priorities, challenges, and drive evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Develop HR solutions that support the business in achieving strategic and operational goals.
• Lead and support organisation‑wide change initiatives, ensuring alignment with business needs and effective communication across teams.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders on all HR matters, including organisational design, employee relations, performance, and talent development.
• Foster a strong leadership and coaching culture across the organisation.
• Build influential relationships across all levels, enhancing collaboration and strengthening HR’s role as a strategic partner.
• Oversee and optimise the utilisation of HiBob, ensuring high levels of data integrity and meaningful reporting.
• Maintain and enhance HR processes, policies, and service delivery, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and an exceptional employee experience.
• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating existing practices and implementing enhancements aligned with business goals.
• Lead the continuous embedding of performance management and goal‑setting frameworks.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations issues, including grievances, performance concerns, and policy interpretation.
• Monitor, review, and update HR policies to ensure compliance with employment legislation and best practice.
• Lead initiatives to enhance employee engagement, including survey design, delivery, and action planning.
• Help cultivate a positive, inclusive, and high‑performance culture across the organisation.
• Manage relationships with compensation and benefits suppliers, brokers, and external partners, ensuring value for money, compliance, and high‑quality service delivery aligned to the People & Culture strategy.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Progressive HR Business Partnering experience, with proven impact in strategic and fast‑paced environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, or CIPD Level 7, or equivalent experience, required.
• Strong understanding of HR operations, employee experience, employment law, and best‑practice HR methodologies.
• Experience in an Engineering, Technology, and/or Manufacturing environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success in leading change management and employee communication initiatives across a geographically dispersed workforce.
• Experience with HRIS platforms, ideally HiBob.
• Strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex issues and provide pragmatic solutions.
• Proven ability to thrive in a dynamic, ambiguous environment with resilience and composure.
• Highly proactive, relationship‑driven, and committed to continuous personal and professional development.
• Interest in Compensation & Benefits preferred.

Hybrid role: 3 days per week in the Farnborough office. Occasional global travel may be required.

AALTO is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.