At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives, support site leadership, and enhance employee engagement across two manufacturing sites.
- Company: Join Greencore, a leading UK convenience food creator with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension contributions, life insurance, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Opportunity for on-the-job development and to shape the future of our teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your HR skills.
- Qualifications: CIPD qualification and experience in operational HR within complex environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Why Greencore? Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better. As a vibrant and fast‑moving business, we’re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn.
Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.
What you'll be doing: As a Lead People Partner, you will provide senior HR leadership across our Kiveton (S26 5PF) and Consett (DH8 7NU) sites, partnering closely with site leadership teams to drive a people agenda that supports performance, engagement, capability and compliance. This is a role for a highly capable, experienced People Partner who can operate confidently in complex, fast‑paced manufacturing environments. You’ll build trusted relationships with senior operational leaders, bringing sound judgement, practical guidance and appropriate challenge to help leaders make strong people decisions.
You’ll oversee employee relations activity across the sites, ensuring cases are managed consistently, fairly and with appropriate pace and rigour. You’ll use people data to understand what is happening locally, spot trends early and turn insight into action that improves the colleague experience and supports operational performance. A key part of the role will be building leadership capability. You’ll coach and guide managers through people issues, support engagement activity, and help create working environments where matters are addressed early, consistently and effectively.
The two sites each bring their own operational context, so you’ll need to balance priorities, adapt your style and maintain strong visibility across both locations. You’ll bring a calm, credible HR presence, staying close to site reality while helping align local people plans with the direction of the wider business. As Greencore and Bakkavor continue to build one business together, our sites are central to that change story. You’ll help ensure Kiveton and Consett move in step with the wider business, supporting change, strengthening local leadership and helping build a more consistent colleague experience. The role will primarily be based at Kiveton with travel to Consett approximately one day per week (with occasional flexibility).
What we're looking for: You’re a strong, experienced operational HR professional who has built credibility in demanding, fast‑moving environments. You’ll ideally have:
- CIPD qualification, ideally MCIPD or working at an equivalent level through experience
- A substantial background in operational HR or people partnering, ideally within manufacturing, logistics, food production or another complex operational environment
- Strong employee relations experience, including the confidence to oversee complex cases and coach managers through them
- Credibility with senior operational stakeholders, including site leadership teams
- The ability to use people data to identify trends, challenge thinking and drive action
- Experience supporting colleague engagement, manager capability and local people plans
- Confidence operating across more than one site, balancing priorities and adapting your style to different environments
- The judgement, resilience and pace needed to succeed in a high‑change, high‑volume operational business
- A practical, hands‑on approach, with the ability to move between strategic site partnering and day‑to‑day operational support
What you’ll get in return: Competitive salary and job‑related benefits, matched company pension contributions, life insurance up to 4x salary, company shares saving scheme, exclusive Greencore employee discount platform, access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform, enhanced parental leave and menopause policies. Throughout your time at Greencore, you’ll be supported with on‑the‑job development and the chance to leave a lasting impact on site capability and compliance. If you’re looking for a role where you can roll up your sleeves, take ownership and help shape a stronger future, join us and grow with Greencore.
Lead People Partner employer: Greencore Group PLC
Greencore is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where over 28,000 talented colleagues collaborate to create delicious convenience food. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including matched pension contributions and exclusive discounts, and a commitment to fostering a supportive culture, Greencore empowers its team members to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact across its Kiveton and Consett sites.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead People Partner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Greencore or in similar roles on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Greencore's values and recent news. Show us that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about making everyday taste better.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common HR scenarios. We want to see how you handle complex cases and engage with leadership. Role-playing with a friend can help you nail those answers!
✨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 serious about joining the Greencore team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead People Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead People Partner role. Highlight your operational HR experience and any relevant qualifications, like your CIPD status, to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background in fast-paced environments makes you the perfect fit for Greencore.
Showcase Your People Skills:In your application, don’t forget to mention specific examples of how you've built relationships with senior leaders and managed employee relations. We love seeing real-life stories that demonstrate your impact!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining the Greencore team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Greencore Group PLC
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Greencore's mission and values. Understand their operations, especially in manufacturing and logistics. This will help you connect your experience with their needs and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a Lead People Partner, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to build relationships. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated complex employee relations cases or coached managers through challenges. This will highlight your credibility and hands-on approach.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be ready to discuss how you've used people data to identify trends and drive action in previous roles. Bring specific examples of how your insights led to improved colleague experiences or operational performance, as this aligns perfectly with what Greencore is looking for.
✨Adaptability is Key
Since the role involves balancing priorities across multiple sites, think of instances where you've adapted your style to different environments. Share how you managed to maintain strong visibility and support local teams while aligning with broader business goals.
