HR Business Partner in North East

Can you demonstrate that you’ve successfully managed complex employee relations cases from start to finish, confidently advising managers and resolving issues in line with UK employment law? Are you genuinely comfortable working in a fast-moving, operational environment where priorities shift quickly and HR needs both hands-on support and strategic thinking? Do you have the professionalism, discretion, and resilience needed to be a trusted HR point of contact, working with sensitive information and influencing stakeholders at all levels?

MB are partnering with a manufacturing business, searching for a HR Business Partner. This is a permanent role (Hybrid). The HR Business Partner will support the delivery of a proactive, efficient, and high-quality HR service within a fast-paced and highly regulated operational setting. Working closely with managers and employees across the full employee lifecycle, this role ensures the compliant application of employment legislation, supports organisational culture, and contributes to a strong and responsive HR function during a period of growth and transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day HR generalist activities including onboarding, probation, employee relations, absence management, performance issues, and employee development.
• Provide HR advice and guidance to people managers on policies, procedures, and best practice.
• Manage and resolve employee relations matters, escalating complex issues where appropriate.
• Oversee employee records, contractual documentation, and HR system updates to maintain accuracy and compliance.
• Support recruitment activity across operational, technical, and corporate functions.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to define role requirements, candidate profiles, and selection processes.
• Support the design and delivery of onboarding, induction, and engagement initiatives.
• Ensure HR processes and decision-making adhere to UK Employment Law and internal compliance standards relevant to a regulated operational environment.
• Contribute to the ongoing review and improvement of HR policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate HR metrics and reporting, including attendance, turnover, and learning data.
• Support internal audits, workforce compliance activity, and readiness for external inspection where required.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for employees, promoting a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture.
• Support initiatives relating to wellbeing, engagement, learning and development, and talent retention.
• Contribute to HR projects involving organisational change, workforce planning, and systems improvements.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven HR generalist experience in a Senior HR Officer, HR Advisor, or equivalent role.
• Strong and up-to-date knowledge of UK employment legislation.
• Experience managing employee relations cases through to conclusion.
• Ability to work autonomously within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder management skills.
• High attention to detail with strong HR administration discipline.
• Experience within regulated operational, technical, engineering, logistics, or heavy-industry environments.
• CIPD Level 5 (or working towards).
• Exposure to HR projects, transformation programmes, or system implementations.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and reporting tools.
• Professional, approachable, and solutions-focused.
• Able to balance day-to-day operational demands with broader HR thinking.
• Discreet and trustworthy, handling confidential information with integrity.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to thrive in a growing organisation.

For more information, please contact Alice Redmond.