Senior HR & ER Business Partner in Colchester

Location: Dagenham, East London (hybrid working arrangements, the office based will be in Dagenham. The organisation works a hybrid working model with an expected 2 days minimum in the office and 3 days working from home)

Salary: 60,000 per annum

Duration: 12 months FTC

We're seeking a Senior HR & ER Business Partner on behalf of our catering, cleaning, building maintenance and facilities client. The role will support the Associate Director of HR in delivering a proactive, high quality HR Service, with a strong emphasis on leading employee relations strategy, complex case management, and providing expert HR guidance across the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee HR & employee relations activity across one or a combination of business units.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and managers, providing expert guidance on complex people issues including performance, conduct, attendance, organisational change, and wellbeing, promoting fair, consistent and legally compliant people practices that build trust, reduce risk and support a positive, high performing culture.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex ER cases, providing expert guidance on conduct, grievance, capability, attendance, performance and sensitive employee issues.
• Line manage, support and develop ER/HR Business Partners and HR Advisors, ensuring high standards of case management, professional development and consistent application of policy and practice.
• Provide coaching and supervision to the HR team to build capability, confidence and consistency in managing ER casework.
• Work with key stakeholders to proactively identify and resolve HR and ER issues, translating business needs and legislative changes into practical workforce solutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior managers and trade union representatives to support effective communication, engagement, and resolution of workforce issues.
• Lead on complex organisational change activity, including restructures, redundancy, TUPE and service redesign, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.
• Oversee HR-related projects and manage external providers (e.g. legal advisors, occupational health, mediators), ensuring high-quality service delivery and effective case resolution.
• Own HR data reporting and insight at a senior level, ensuring accurate case recording, trend analysis (absence, conduct, turnover) and actionable insights to inform strategic decision making.
• Act as a CIPHR champion, ensuring data integrity, compliance, and continuous improvement in HR systems and reporting capability.
• Drive continuous improvement in HR policies, processes and systems to ensure modern, consistent and effective people management practice.

Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified to Level 5 CIPD or equivalent experience.
• Membership of CIPD.
• Extensive experience operating as a senior HR/ER practitioner within complex organisations.
• Proven experience leading and managing ER casework at a high level, including complex, sensitive, and high risk matters.
• Experience line managing HR professionals, including coaching, development and performance management.
• Strong track record of advising senior leaders and managers on employment law, policy and risk-based decision making.
• Significant experience managing employee relations in unionised environments, including consultation, negotiation and dispute resolution.
• Demonstrate experience leading organisational change programmes, including restructures, redundancy and TUPE.
• Proven ability to analyse HR data and ER trends to identify risks, inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Experience developing and improving HR policies, procedures, and toolkits.
• Experience working with HR systems (e.g. CIPHR or similar) to ensure accurate data, reporting and process improvement.
• Ability to work independently at a senior level, exercising sound judgement on complex and high risk ER matters.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.