HR Business Partner

Purpose of the Role

HR Business Partner – Technology & Corporate Functions

Location: Milton Park, Abingdon Oxfordshire

Business: Agratas

Supporting: R&D Technology

About The Role

At Agratas, we are building at pace—scaling rapidly in a complex, evolving environment where priorities shift, structures mature, and opportunities emerge quickly. In this context, resilience, adaptability, and confidence operating in ambiguity are critical to success. We are looking for an experienced HR Business Partner who thrives in high-growth environments, is comfortable making decisions without perfect information, and can help leaders navigate change while building strong, future‑ready organisations. This role partners with senior leadership to build capability and competitive advantage across the technology landscape underpinning R&D and product development, as well as UK corporate functions. You will collaborate with leaders, managers, and employees to deliver organisational goals and build sustainable people capability. As part of the UK HR Business Partnering function, you will support the development and implementation of the global people strategy at a local level, working in close partnership with HR Centres of Excellence.

Join Agratas and move beyond traditional HR—this is your opportunity to shape a scaling organisation from the ground up, partnering with senior leaders in a fast‑paced, ambiguous environment where your impact is immediate, visible, and critical. If you thrive on challenge, change, and building something meaningful, this is the role that will accelerate both your influence and your career.

Impact at Scale

You’ll play a key role in building the organisational capability behind cutting‑edge technology that powers R&D and product innovation. The work you do will directly influence how we attract, develop, and retain the talent that drives our success.

A True Partnering Role

HR is positioned as a strategic enabler. You will work closely with senior leaders, influencing decisions, shaping organisational design, and driving meaningful people outcomes—not just supporting them.

Growth Through Ambiguity

This Is An Environment Where Not Everything Is Defined—and That’s Where The Opportunity Lies. You’ll Be Empowered To:

• Build frameworks from the ground up
• Navigate complexity and change
• Create clarity where there isn’t any yet

If you thrive in fast‑paced, evolving environments, Agratas offers the chance to develop your capability faster than in more traditional organisations.

Key Responsibility Areas

In a fast‑paced scale‑up, systems, structures, and ways of working are continuously evolving. You will:

• Navigate uncertainty and change with confidence
• Provide clarity and direction where processes are still being defined
• Build trust quickly in an environment where priorities can shift rapidly
• Help leaders and teams remain focused, engaged, and effective despite ambiguity

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Develop trusted partnerships with leaders and managers, building credibility and mutual trust
• Collaborate with senior leadership to understand business goals and shape HR strategies aligned to organisational priorities
• Provide expert guidance across the full employee lifecycle including talent acquisition, development, retention, and performance
• Support leaders through ambiguity, offering pragmatic, solutions‑focused advice in evolving scenarios
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, and talent development

Employee Engagement

• Ensure onboarding and offboarding processes are delivered to a high standard
• Provide a proactive HR advisory service, coaching managers to attract, retain, and motivate high‑performing teams
• Contribute to Employee Engagement Forums and drive initiatives to enhance engagement and experience
• Act as a steady, trusted advisor during periods of change and uncertainty

Culture Development

• Champion Agratas values and behavioural framework, role‑modeling expected behaviours
• Address behavioural misalignment in partnership with leaders
• Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Drive initiatives that strengthen culture, engagement, and organisational health in a scaling environment

Talent Development & Succession Planning

• Support organisational design, workforce planning, and change initiatives to enable growth
• Partner with leaders to identify and develop high‑potential talent
• Build leadership pipelines and robust succession plans for critical roles
• Enable managers to lead effectively through change and transformation

HRIS, Metrics, Data & Reporting

• Act as custodian of employee data in the UK, ensuring GDPR compliance and data accuracy
• Support implementation and optimisation of HRIS systems
• Provide insights through HR dashboards, analysing trends and identifying risks and opportunities
• Use data to inform decision‑making in an evolving business environment

HR Operations

• Develop and evolve people policies aligned to organisational growth and legal compliance
• Continuously improve HR processes and practices
• Stay up to date with HR best practice and legislative changes
• Provide guidance on legal and ethical HR matters
• Build your own capability and understanding across all HR disciplines

Essential Experience

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience partnering with senior leaders in complex, fast‑paced environments
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, evolving organisational contexts
• Experience delivering people initiatives across performance, talent, leadership, and culture
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills
• Ability to coach and empower leaders through change, uncertainty, and growth
• Strong understanding of employee relations, compliance, and people risk management
• Experience within technology‑driven organisations

Key Attributes for Success

• Resilient and adaptable—comfortable with change and able to maintain momentum
• Comfortable with ambiguity—able to make decisions and provide direction without complete information
• Proactive and solutions‑oriented—focuses on outcomes rather than process
• Collaborative and influential—builds alignment across diverse stakeholders
• Data‑driven—uses insight to guide decision‑making
• Values‑driven—champions inclusion, fairness, and integrity

Qualifications

• University degree in HR, Organisation Development, or relevant experience
• CIPD qualified (or equivalent experience)

Why Agratas?

Agratas is building something transformative—a next‑generation battery business at the heart of the global energy transition. This is a rare opportunity to join a high‑growth, fast‑moving scale‑up backed by the strength and ambition of a global organisation. At Agratas, you won’t just support the business—you will shape it.

Culture & Purpose

We are building a culture grounded in innovation, inclusion, and accountability. There’s a strong commitment to doing things the right way—balancing pace with people, and growth with sustainability. Agratas is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that diversity of thought, background, and experience strengthens our organisation and drives better outcomes. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We are committed to ensuring fairness, equity, and respect throughout our recruitment process and employment lifecycle. We actively promote a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work, feel valued, and have equal access to opportunities for growth and development.