HR Business Partner (AWDO-P14995) in London)

An excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional to join a mission-led organisation and support managers to build inclusive, high-performing teams through practical people advice, coaching and employee relations support.

This is an exciting opportunity to use your HR expertise in a varied role where your judgement, coaching style and practical approach will help managers make confident, fair and effective people decisions as an HR Business Partner. As the HR Business Partner, you will work alongside leaders across the organisation, advising on the employee lifecycle, employee relations, organisational change, recruitment, talent, workforce planning and wider people projects. The HR Business Partner will provide balanced, pragmatic advice, support managers to address people challenges early and help develop inclusive, high-performing teams while contributing to policy, process and people strategy improvements.

DUTIES

• Business Partnering: Partner with managers to strengthen leadership capability, support effective decision-making and develop confident people management practices.
• Employee Relations Advice: Provide balanced and pragmatic advice on absence, performance, conduct, grievances, capability and organisational change.
• Manager Coaching: Provide proactive coaching, advice and constructive challenge across the employee lifecycle.
• Early Issue Resolution: Coach leaders to identify and address people challenges early, preventing issues from escalating where possible.
• Organisational Change: Support managers to implement change in a way that reflects organisational values, culture and priorities.
• Talent Management: Support approaches to attract, recruit and retain high-performing and diverse talent.
• Recruitment Processes: Help ensure recruitment processes are equitable, efficient and aligned to organisational values.
• Policy and Process Improvement: Review and improve people policies, guidance and processes.
• Insight and Data: Identify themes from business partnering activity and use insight to inform decisions and influence stakeholders.
• People Projects: Contribute to organisation-wide people initiatives and adapt priorities as organisational needs evolve.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• Previous experience operating in a People Partner, Senior HR Adviser or similar role.
• Experience independently advising managers across a broad range of employee relations matters, including complex cases.
• Demonstrable experience using a coaching style to influence, challenge and build management capability.
• Good knowledge of employment law and best practice, with the ability to apply policy proportionately while balancing organisational risk.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to understand organisational priorities and translate them into practical people solutions.
• Comfortable operating autonomously, exercising professional judgement and taking ownership for outcomes.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and prioritise competing demands effectively.
• Able to maintain professionalism and influence constructively.
• Strong understanding of risk and confidence in knowing when to escape.
• Demonstrates commitment to creating inclusive and high-performing cultures.
• Enjoys variety and is comfortable working in a role where priorities may evolve as the organisation grows.

DESIRABLE

• Experience partnering with managers across recruitment, workforce planning and/or talent management.
• Experience of working within a mission-led, or charity context.
• CIPD qualified.

BENEFITS

• Employee Resource Groups (incl. LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, Black Affinity Group, family network).
• Organisational away day once a year.
• Regular social activities – virtual and in-person.
• Enhanced Occupational Maternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental leave policies – 24 weeks full pay, followed by 15 weeks statutory pay.
• Partner leave – 6 weeks full pay.
• Work from home as often as needed for your role.
• Flexibility around our core hours (10am-4pm).
• Mission aligned volunteering time (up to 3 days).
• CPD – Professional qualifications and apprenticeships.
• Tailored, in-house workshops.
• Coaching with qualified, professional coach.
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and office closure from 25 December to 1 January.
• Holiday entitlement increases by one day every year after two years’ service (up to max. 30 days).
• Buy or sell up to five days annual leave a year.
• Employee Support Service – 24/7 confidential advice line and counselling.
• Occupational Health support – assessments and counselling.
• Life Assurance Scheme – death in service benefit of x3 annual salary.
• Free eye test and flu vaccine.
• Employee-led Wellbeing Action Group.
• Sabbatical after 3 years’ service (up to 6 months).
• Up to 8% employer pension contribution.
• Interest-free bike and season ticket loan.
• Interest-free deposit loan for renting or buying a new home.