People Partner

Location: Stoke-on-Trent (Onsite with regular travel across Simarco operational sites)

Salary: Market Leading

Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm – must be flexible

Simarco is an award-winning international logistics provider, driven by a deep understanding of the fast-paced nature of global trade. We specialise in delivering bespoke freight solutions across the UK, Europe, and worldwide, offering flexible, fully tailored services that are designed to meet the unique needs of our clients.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused People Partner to join our HR team in Stoke on Trent. This role will provide proactive HR support across our logistics, transport and warehousing operations, partnering closely with managers and operational leaders to drive engagement, performance, compliance and employee development.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and is passionate about driving people performance through innovative Learning & Development initiatives. The ideal candidate will be highly proficient in designing and delivering impactful development programmes, confident leveraging technology to enhance the employee experience, and experienced in managing complex employee relations matters. Working closely with operational leaders, you will deliver pragmatic, commercially focused people solutions that drive engagement, build capability, and support business success.

Here at Simarco, we believe that people are the heart of our business. It is their professionalism, dedication and experience that continues to be at the core of our success!

The Simarco Culture and values:

• Communication
• Innovation
• Accountability
• Integrity

Key Skills and Qualifications to succeed in this role:

• CIPD Level 5 qualified (minimum).
• Proven experience within a generalist HR, HR Business Partner or People Partner role.
• Strong employee relations experience with the ability to independently manage disciplinaries, grievances, absence management and performance-related matters.
• Experience supporting multi-site operational environments, ideally within logistics, transport, warehousing or supply chain sectors.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience partnering with operational managers and senior stakeholders.
• Experience designing and delivering Learning & Development initiatives.
• Experience conducting training needs analysis and supporting management development programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and coaching skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Commercially aware with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
• Ability to analyse people data and identify trends to support business decisions.
• Experience managing apprenticeship or emerging talent programmes is desirable.
• Experience using DISC profiling or similar behavioural assessment tools is advantageous.
• Experience using Cezanne HR or similar HRIS platforms is desirable.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the dedicated HR partner for allocated logistics, warehousing and transport operations.
• Independently manage a wide range of employee relations cases including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, flexible working requests, performance and capability matters.
• Provide practical HR advice and guidance to managers in line with employment legislation and company policies.
• Support investigations, hearings and outcome management.
• Coach and develop managers to strengthen leadership capability and people management practices.
• Identify and mitigate operational people risks including turnover, absenteeism, engagement concerns and capability gaps.
• Support organisational change, restructures and workforce planning activities.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, HR policies and industry best practice.
• Support payroll processes by validating and submitting payroll-related information and resolving discrepancies where required.
• Analyse people data and support initiatives that improve employee engagement, wellbeing and retention.
• Work closely with the Talent and Onboarding Lead to support recruitment, onboarding and succession planning activities.
• Develop and deliver Learning & Development initiatives aligned to operational and business needs.
• Coordinate management development programmes, apprenticeships, graduate development and succession planning initiatives.
• Deliver training workshops and support continuous improvement of learning programmes.

We can offer you:

• A highly competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays
• Company Pension Scheme
• Discount platform – including top high street retailers
• Full training and support
• Cycle to work & Tusker car scheme
• Learning Management System for continuous learning
• Mental health forum in place to support with well being

This role will suit a forward-thinking People Partner who combines strong HR expertise with a passion for developing people and driving organisational performance. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded professional who excels in Learning & Development, embraces technology and innovation, and is confident managing complex employee relations matters.

For a confidential discussion – please apply today!

Simarco International is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and a respectful working environment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and we value the unique perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. We are driven by our core values of Integrity, Communication, Accountability, and Innovation, which influence how we work, collaborate, and grow.