At a Glance
- Tasks: Support leaders and drive engagement, capability, and performance across Global Functions.
- Company: Join Costa Coffee, a global brand re-imagining coffee experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive perks like share ownership, bonuses, and discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant community focused on growth and inclusion.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR or as a People Partner with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with exciting new office space in St Albans.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We're re-imagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting, as a key part of the Coca-Cola System. Whether you enjoy your coffee in-store, at home, on the go, or from a machine – we've got you covered.
As a People Partner – Global Functions, you'll play a critical role in supporting our Support Centre and Global Functions by partnering with senior leaders to build engagement, capability, and performance that enables Costa's long term ambitions. Our teams make a difference – from shaping strategy and developing talent, to driving change and creating inclusive, high-performing cultures. Together, we stir up success.
We may be a global brand, but we've never forgotten our roots. Through the Costa Foundation and our community agenda, whatever your role, you can help change lives in coffee-growing communities and closer to home. We're equally passionate about helping you grow. Through development programmes, new experiences, and meaningful work, Costa gives you the opportunity to go beyond the day-to-day.
So, why Costa? We didn't become a global coffee brand by standing still. When you join Costa, you become part of a community that values passion, progression, and integrity – with some brilliant perks to match:
- Become a share owner in Coca-Cola through our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
- Annual discretionary bonus, based on business results and individual contribution
- A smart pension with contributions matched up to 10%
- Access to the Costa Financial Support Fund
- 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores and 25% off participating stores
- Private medical cover through our Private Healthcare scheme
And that’s not all – explore more of our perks here: We’re committed to being a great place to work, where everyone can bring their unique self to the mix. We champion diversity, equity and inclusion and live our values every day: Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge, and Trusted Team Players.
What you’ll do: Being a People Partner – Global Functions is about much more than delivering people processes. It’s your opportunity to drive real impact across our Support Centre and Global Functions, meaning you’ll:
- Lean in to support leaders including some of our Global Exec to provide trusted, proactive people advice, offering thoughtful challenge and practical solutions that enable high performance, engagement, and delivery against business priorities.
- Own and drive high-quality delivery of core people cycles for Global Functions, including engagement surveys, pay and reward processes, and talent reviews, working end-to-end with People COEs and Shared Services to ensure consistency, insight, and continuous improvement.
- Support the Senior People Partner to align functional strategies and Costa's long-term ambitions with our People Plan. You’ll support translating business needs and insights into clear, actionable priorities across engagement, capability, succession, and talent planning.
- Coach and develop senior leaders, strengthening leadership capability and confidence, and providing guidance on complex or high risk people matters, including overseeing and supporting higher-level employee relations in partnership with Shared Services and COEs.
- Support people centric change activities including org design, working closely with leaders and OD specialists to shape effective operating models, underpin business change programmes, and ensure structures and ways of working remain fit for the future.
Who you are: It’s your unique blend of skills and experience we’re interested in. You’ll be:
- An experienced People Partner or HR generalist with a track record of operating in large, complex, matrixed organisations
- Confident partnering with senior leaders, building trust and influencing decisions through insight, judgement, and appropriate challenge
- Commercially minded and pragmatic, using data and business context to guide people decisions and balance value, cost, and capability
- A coach and delivery-focused change catalyst, comfortable working through ambiguity and translating people strategy into practical, effective outcomes
- Passionate about continuous improvement, with the confidence to offer constructive challenge and make suggestions where you see opportunities
Nice to have (but not essential):
- CIPD or equivalent professional qualification, or demonstrable experience gained through relevant people partnering roles
- Prior exposure to organisation design and people centric change initiatives
- Prior experience working in a Global Business
Where you’ll work: Right now, our Support Centre teams work flexibly – blending home working with in-person time whenever it matters most, whether that’s for collaboration, creativity, or connection. From January ****, we’ll be moving into an exciting new Support Centre in St Albans, where teams will work three days a week on site, coming together in a vibrant space designed to bring our bold ambition to life.
People Partner in St Albans employer: Costa Limited
Contact Detail:
Costa Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Partner in St Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Costa Coffee on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the People Partner role. Personal connections can give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Costa's values and culture. Think about how your experience aligns with their passion for progress and commitment to diversity. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven change and supported leaders in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You want to be able to clearly articulate how your skills as a People Partner can help Costa achieve its long-term ambitions. Keep it concise, engaging, and focused on the impact you can make.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Costa community.
We think you need these skills to ace People Partner in St Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your personality and passion for the role, so don’t be afraid to share your unique experiences and insights.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the People Partner role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Impact: We love to see how you've made a difference in previous roles. Share specific examples of how you've driven engagement, capability, or performance in your past experiences to demonstrate your potential impact at Costa.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Costa Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Costa Coffee's values and mission. Understand their approach to people management and how it aligns with your experience as a People Partner. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've coached senior leaders in the past. Highlight your ability to build trust and influence decisions, as this is crucial for the role. Prepare anecdotes that demonstrate your impact on leadership capability.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Costa values a commercially minded approach, so come prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform people decisions. Think of instances where your insights led to improved engagement or performance, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Embrace Change
As a People Partner, you'll need to support change initiatives. Be prepared to talk about your experience with organisational design and how you've navigated ambiguity in previous roles. Show them you're a change catalyst who thrives in dynamic environments.