Senior HR Business Partner (Media / Media Production)

About the Role & Team

Be you, be here, be part of the story! At The Walt Disney Company, magic is more than just a word; it’s a way of life. For a century, we’ve been inspiring imaginations, celebrating diversity, and bringing families together through our beloved stories, characters, and experiences. From our iconic theme parks and resorts to our groundbreaking films, television shows, interactive media and products, we’re dedicated to creating magic that knows no bounds.

We are looking for a Senior HR Business Partner, with significant experience from within the Media / Media Production industry, to make a meaningful impact and be part of a dynamic team! The successful Senior HR Business Partner will play a key role in supporting our studio group, platform distribution and corporate communications teams here at The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) and will form part of the UK & Ireland HR leadership team driving and enabling the delivery of the HR people strategy.

Reporting to the HR Director, the key responsibility of the role is to provide HR leadership to the client groups and the team reporting into the position. This role will have line management responsibility for a HR Business Partner and a Senior HR Advisor. Critical to the success of the position is managing a professional, effective and proactive relationship with the business by understanding their key business drivers and priorities and providing an effective interface with the Centres of Excellence to help the achievement of these.

Please Note: This is an office-based role. 4 days working in the Hammersmith, London office with 1 day working from home (Monday or Friday). Join us in shaping the magic behind the scenes!

What You Will Do

• Contribute, drive and deliver the HR people strategy working in collaboration with the line of business leadership teams.
• Lead, motivate and drive a high-performance team to deliver against the HR plan.
• In partnership with your client group proactively lead the development and delivery of the people agenda, ensuring it aligned with the TWDC HR and business strategy.
• Be an active member of your client group’s leadership team, proactively driving the HR agenda and provide support on business initiatives.
• A key focus of the role is to have a good understanding of how the business operates, the key business challenges, drivers, financials as well as staying current on current industry trends, technology advances etc.
• Participate in and influence the strategy planning process, the Annual Operating Planning process (AOP) as well as local business planning.
• Pro-actively develop strong working relationships with key business and HR stakeholders, which enable a solution-orientated approach to delivering HR initiatives.
• Apply commercial thinking and an understanding of the business and HR to provide pragmatic and informed HR solutions and ideas which meet both the business needs and fit with the HR agenda.
• Proactively engage with the HR Centres of Excellence to obtain specialist advice and facilitate value-added solutions to your client groups.
• Pro-actively manage annual HR processes with the business and Centres of Excellence, for example:

• Reward & Recognition: Support the annual merit planning process by effectively working in partnership with the EMEA & Global Compensation and Benefits teams. Partner with your client group to ensure the merit and bonus process is effectively managed and delivers against the business objectives.
• Talent Planning: Effectively manage the Talent Planning process with your client group, ensuring that talent is proactively managed throughout the year.
• Performance Management: Support your client group in proactively managing the annual performance management process throughout the year.
• Organisational Change: Support the business with changes to the structure, roles and org design as required.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• An accomplished Senior HR Business Partner, with significant experience in leading initiatives within Media Production or Media industry.
• A proven track record of managing senior client relationships, with experience in managing clients at VP level and above.
• Significant experience supporting client groups with marketing, sales, distribution and communications backgrounds.
• Experience of leading a high performing team.
• Demonstrable multi-discipline Human Resources experience.
• Experience of operating within an HR team partnership model.
• Collaborative, positive working style with an ability to influence and persuade others.
• Proven experience of significant change management/OD experience including restructures, redundancy, TUPE, compromise agreements and redeployment within EMEA.
• Evident experience of multi-national, fast-paced, progressive commercial organisations.
• Evident experience gained within a global multi-national or similar matrixed organisation.
• CIPD (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave.
• Private medical insurance & dental care.
• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free.
• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing.
• Excellent parental and guardian leave.
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.