At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic HR initiatives and support senior leaders in a dynamic banking environment.
- Company: Join Barclays, one of the UK's most trusted banking brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a vibrant workplace culture.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving innovation and excellence in HR.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on HR strategy and governance while shaping the future of banking.
- Qualifications: Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with
Barclays to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
We have an excellent opportunity for a Director, Business Manager, HR Partnering to join our Barclays UK HR Team. This is a permanent role based in London.
Barclays Bank UK PLC (BUK) is part of Barclays Group.
It is the UK ring‑fenced bank and one of the UK’s best‑known banking brands.
BUK supports over 20 million customers through two main areas: Retail Banking for personal customers and Business Banking for business customers.
This is a high‑impact Director Business Manager role within HR Business Partnering team for Barclays UK, supporting the BUK HR Director and leadership team to deliver the people agenda across a full scale, regulated retail banking environment.
The role sits at the centre of HR strategy, governance, executive engagement, colleague communications and people reporting, acting as a key link between the HR leadership team, BUK CEO Office, Business Management community, Board governance forums and wider HR Centres of Excellence.
The role is responsible for coordinating a broad portfolio of strategic and operational HR activity, ensuring senior leaders have clear insight, governance and materials to support effective people decisions.
This includes preparing CEO and Ex Co‑ready people updates, coordinating HR content for senior forums and offsites, supporting Board‑related people matters, managing HR leadership meeting rhythms, maintaining the People Plan and responding to regular and ad‑hoc requests from senior stakeholders.
A key part of the role is providing trusted HR business management support across governance, risk and controls, colleague engagement, talent, performance and workforce insight.
This includes supporting SMR/SMF18 activity, Ring‑Fenced Bank controls, employee conduct updates, service management, people controls, talent forums, and colleague voice activity.
The role also contributes to strategic HR and transformation activity, including HR operating model work, People Leader initiatives, colleague communications, Time in Office, ER data and wider colleague experience priorities.
It requires the ability to connect people strategy with practical execution, manage multiple stakeholders at pace, and translate complex people, data and governance topics into clear, actionable and executive‑ready outputs.
- Key Skills Required Include
- Strong stakeholder management
- Executive communication
- HR business management
- Governance and control discipline
- People data and insight, planning and prioritisation, commercial awareness
- Influencing skills, and the ability to work confidently with senior leaders across HR, the CEO Office, Ex Co, Board governance forums and wider business stakeholders.
- Purpose of the role
To provide operating and administrative support to senior leaders, simultaneously shaping and executing long‑term strategic change, whilst helping to navigate complex challenges in the performance of their roles
- Accountabilities
- Implementation of Target Operating Model, business development, and financial and non‑financial resource allocation, providing strategic insight and thought leadership.
- Strategic support to and oversight of demand pipeline and the book of work, including assistance in the development and execution of strategic initiatives, projects, research, and analysis to support decision‑making.
- Support to and guidance for operational efficiency and colleague/customer/client experience within the organisation, including the identification of areas for improvement, streamlining of processes, and implementation of best practices to enhance productivity, effectiveness and experience.
- Management of people plan, talent development and succession planning including the identification of high‑potential employees, provision of mentorship and guidance, and support to leadership development and diversity initiatives.
- Communication with internal and external stakeholders, management of communication channels and ensuring effective coordination across different departments and teams.
- Participation in compliance activities such as SMR and other regulatory registrations/certifications, as well as support for crisis management and risk mitigation, including the development of contingency plans, coordination of responses to emergencies, and business continuity.
- Management of all organisational/team requirements relating to technology, real‑estate, people and communications in conjunction with relevant partners across the firm.
- Enablement of oversight of risk management and compliance with internal and external requirements, including internal Governance on critical control activities in partnership with the CCO team, such as Records Inventory and RCSAs.
- Cost control and workforce management of the Business/Function, including involvement in financial analysis and planning, forecasting, and monitoring of financial performance against targets.
- Director Expectations
- To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
- They manage the direction of a large team or sub‑function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business.
Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation‑wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross‑functionally.
They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long‑term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
- Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
- Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub‑function.
- Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
- Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
- Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
- Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
- Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up‑to‑date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
- Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
- Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
- Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
- Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
- Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.
All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard.
The four LEAD behaviours are: L - Listen and be authentic, E - Energise and inspire, A - Align across the enterprise, D - Develop others.
All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship - our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right.
They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset - to Empower, Challenge and Drive - the operating manual for how we behave.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director Business Manager, HR Partnering — Barclays UK in London employer: hackajob
At hackajob, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity. Our diverse team thrives in a high-performance environment where your contributions directly impact our multi-asset platform's success. With ample opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to employee development, joining us means being part of a forward-thinking company that values your expertise and ambition.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Business Manager, HR Partnering — Barclays UK in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like hackajob. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Director Business Manager, HR Partnering — Barclays UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to hackajob.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on hackajob's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at hackajob
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with hackajob.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at hackajob will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former hackajob employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.