Principal, People & Culture Business Partnering

Join to apply for the Principal, People & Culture Business Partnering role at Forterro.

Department: People Experience

Location: UK, London (HQ)

Shape the Future of Work at Forterro. Forterro is a fast-growing global technology company powering the growth of Europe’s industrial mid-market. As we continue to expand through organic and acquired business, we’re looking for a Principal People & Culture Business Partner to join our London HQ and play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our people strategy across our Corporate Functions and Lines of Business.

This is more than a traditional HR role — it’s an opportunity to act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing strategic and operational People Experience partnership to functions such as Go To Market, Finance, Legal, and IT across the UK and broader European regions as needed.

What You’ll Do

• Partner with Purpose: Collaborate with functional executives and senior leaders to understand business needs and deliver tailored People Experience solutions aligned with Forterro’s strategic priorities.
• Drive Performance: Use your HR expertise to attract, develop, and retain top talent while enhancing functional performance and organisational effectiveness.
• Act as a Connector: Ensure alignment between functional strategy, functional goals, and local People Experience initiatives across our UK footprint.
• Navigate Complexity: Operate effectively in a multicultural, matrixed environment, bringing cultural awareness, sensitivity and business insight to every interaction.
• Specialist Expertise: Apply a deep understanding of HR practices within functional domains like Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and IT.

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive HRBP experience supporting senior leaders in complex, multi-functional environments in a Corporate and/or EMEA setting.
• Proven ability to influence, challenge, and build strong credible relationships at the senior leadership levels.
• A deep understanding of talent strategies, change management and functional-specific HR needs.
• Strong cultural awareness and experience working across European markets.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to connect people initiatives to business outcomes.

Why Join Forterro?

At Forterro, we’re building something special — a connected, scalable organisation where our people are at the heart of everything we do. Join us to shape the culture and capability of a company that’s growing fast and thinking big.

Forterro operates a hybrid working environment and while the role will be based at our London Offices in Piccadilly, our UK Lines of Business span Southampton, Lincoln, Tewkesbury & Dumfries. Occasional travel to these locations will be required.

Responsibilities

• Partnering with functional leaders to operationalise HR strategies, ensuring alignment between the People Plan and specific functional goals and objectives.
• Providing expert guidance and coaching on talent acquisition, development, and retention strategies tailored to meet functional needs within the local markets, partnering with centralised Talent Acquisition teams and external partners, as needed.
• Supporting in the selection and onboarding process for critical roles within each functional area.
• Supporting offboarding procedures in accordance with legislation.
• Supporting in the design and implementation of function-specific training and skill development programs to ensure time to value is high in the onboarding of new colleagues and the function is actively prepared for future skills requirements of the business and its customers.
• Supporting the functional leadership teams in the development and implementation of performance management processes.
• Assisting in setting and monitoring functional performance goals and metrics connected to the People Plan, liaising with the Corporate People Operations team as needed.
• Coaching on functional structure and design to optimise functional efficiency and effectiveness.
• Partnering with functional leaders on succession planning and talent pipeline development.
• Providing functional leaders with compensation guidance and support in line with market trends and internal equity considerations, working with the corporate People Operations team to access relevant market insights.
• Partnering with functional and line of business leaders to drive employee engagement initiatives and foster a positive work culture within each functional area.
• Monitoring employee feedback and work performance to address functional-specific concerns.
• Organising local employee events.
• Partnering with people leaders to ensure functional compliance with applicable employment laws as well as corporate and local company policies.
• Supporting functional leaders in managing HR aspects of organisational changes, such as restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions.
• Partnering with the corporate People Operations team to utilise HR data to assess functional trends and insights.
• Presenting data-driven recommendations to functional leaders to inform decision-making.
• Building strong relationships with functional leaders and acting as a trusted advisor on all HR matters for the function.
• Partnering with cross-functional HR teams to deliver comprehensive HR solutions.
• Managing topics related to the car policy.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Essential Experience & Training:

• A minimum of 7+ years, proven experience as an HR Business Partner or HR Manager, with a focus on providing functional support in an international corporate setting.
• Specialised knowledge of HR practices related to specific functional domains (e.g., IT, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Product Development & Professional Services).
• CIPD qualified or equivalent and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, fast-changing, fast-growth environment.
• Strong understanding of talent acquisition, performance management, organisational design, and talent development within functional areas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with functional leaders and teams from different geographical locations and cultural backgrounds.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to derive insights from HR data and develop data-driven solutions.
• Proactive problem-solving skills with a focus on delivering HR support tailored to functional needs.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems and HR data analytics tools.
• Good knowledge and use of enterprise HRIS systems and processes.

Desirable Experience & Training:

• Change Management experience and/or qualifications.
• Executive and/or Leadership Coaching experience and/or qualifications.
• Success with providing people and culture support in a multi-stakeholder organization across multiple locations.
• In addition to English, a proficiency in one or more of the following languages would be desirable but is not essential; French, German, Polish.

Aptitude:

• Able to navigate, plan and complete multiple assignments, resolving most conflicts and challenges independently.
• Able to confidently explain technical/functional practices and procedures to internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in gaining the trust and cooperation of other stakeholders on technical/functional practices, solutions and procedures both within and outside of the HR function.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to meet and engage a variety of key stakeholders at their level of understanding.
• Capacity and self-awareness to coach others in leadership positions.
• A willingness to work hands-on in the detail and contribute towards the People Strategy in representing the supported functions.
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently.
• Demonstrates professional courage and influence at all levels, up to and including Executive levels.
• Respond to change with strategy and innovation.