At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives, drive cultural transformation, and support site leadership in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join pladis, a global leader in biscuits and confectionery with a diverse workforce.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values diversity and promotes well-being in the workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on employee engagement and cultural change in a fast-growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR leadership, change management, and strong stakeholder influencing skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are a global biscuits and confectionery business seeking an HR leader to support site leadership, drive people and development, and lead cultural transformation. The role provides credible, values-led HR leadership on site and partners with site leadership to translate business goals into pragmatic HR plans aligned with wider global and regional strategies. A core focus is building mature, trust-based relationships with trade unions to support change, productivity, and workforce stability. The role requires visible leadership on the shop floor to influence behaviours and build trust, balancing commercial rigour with empathy and integrity to enable sustainable cultural change.
Responsibilities
- Own the HR agenda for the site, ensuring alignment with the site strategy and wider regional/global HR and business strategies.
- Partner with the Site Lead to develop future-facing site change plans including organisation design, workforce planning (structures, roles, responsibilities, shift patterns), and manage impacts and risks with mitigations; lead in the implementation of people changes.
- Define and manage the site's people cost base (headcount costs, agency spend, overtime, training budgets) and own the flexible resource strategy (agency & OT spend, hours, productivity).
- Lead the site/functional talent and succession process with the Talent CoE to identify talent and opportunity development and execute talent action plans.
- Own absence management processes and manage informal performance management with line managers guidance.
- Lead and co-create (with relevant HR CoEs) the people and culture transformational agenda for the site.
- Work with senior leaders and L&D CoE to identify needs and implement leadership and skills capability solutions; plan for future skills with the CoE.
- Provide coaching and development support to site leadership and management on people-related matters; support change management initiatives.
- Be a critical thought partner to site leaders and drive improvements in employee engagement, including leading the annual engagement survey and action planning.
- Own and drive delivery of People KPI performance and action planning for improvements.
- Own the industrial relations agenda for the site, including union relationships, collective grievances, agreements, and negotiations; build positive employee relations and engage with site trade unions with the General Manager.
- Lead senior hires for the site leadership team (interviews) and ensure adherence to BAU People Cycle.
- Develop offer proposals for all site banded roles and coordinate local recognition platforms with alignment to the Reward CoE.
- Maintain relationships with other UK&I HRBPs to ensure consistency of HR practices; contribute to local CSR, Inclusion & Diversity, and Employee Value Proposition plans in line with central agendas.
- Execute Health & Wellbeing plans, support the Mental Health Ambassador network, and coordinate with Occupational Health & Wellbeing as required.
- Provide the link to other HR functions and Centres of Excellence (Reward, Talent Acquisition, L&D, Talent, Employee Relations, etc.) as required.
Qualifications / Capabilities
- HR leadership experience in a manufacturing/industrial environment with a track record of cultural transformation and change management.
- Deep knowledge of collective consultation, negotiations, and employment law; ability to build constructive, trust-based union relationships.
- Strong stakeholder influencing skills; ability to coach leaders and balance commercial outcomes with people impact.
- Visible leadership on the shop floor with resilience, credibility, and integrity.
- Experience in coaching and capability building for frontline and middle management in people leadership, performance management, and employee engagement.
- Commercial and operational acumen in manufacturing operations, productivity, safety, and cost pressures; able to design practical, value-adding HR solutions.
- Data-driven decision making with experience using people metrics and trends to inform progress against engagement goals.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills across HR, site leadership, and CoEs.
pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings are filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law. We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List for recruitment. If you are a recruitment agency, you must be on our PSL terms of business to submit candidates.
pladis is one of the world's fastest growing snacking companies with brands including McVitie's, GODIVA, and Ülker, and regional brands such as Jacob's, Go Ahead, Flipz, Turtles, BN, Verkade. Formed in 2016, pladis has a 16,000-strong global workforce and 27 bakeries across 11 countries, with a purpose to bring happiness with every bite. For more information, visit www.pladisglobal.com.
HR Business Partner - Wigston in Wigston Magna employer: pladis Foods Limited
At pladis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As an HR Business Partner in Wigston, you will have the opportunity to lead cultural transformation while working closely with site leadership to drive employee engagement and development. Our commitment to diversity, employee wellbeing, and continuous growth ensures that every team member can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our mission of bringing happiness with every bite.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Business Partner - Wigston in Wigston Magna
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to current employees at pladis on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research pladis, understand their culture, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practice common HR scenarios and be ready to showcase your leadership skills and how you can drive cultural transformation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your soft skills! As an HR Business Partner, it's all about building trust and relationships. Be prepared to discuss how you've influenced behaviours and managed change in previous roles. Real-life examples will make you stand out!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the pladis team. Let's get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace HR Business Partner - Wigston in Wigston Magna
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the HR Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in cultural transformation and change management, as well as your ability to build trust-based relationships with trade unions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've influenced behaviours and driven people development in previous positions.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, give us a glimpse of your visible leadership style. We want to see how you balance commercial rigour with empathy and integrity on the shop floor.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at pladis Foods Limited
✨Know the Business Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's values, mission, and recent developments. Understanding how the HR role aligns with the overall business strategy will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As an HR Business Partner, building trust-based relationships is key. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated complex employee relations or union negotiations in the past. Highlight your ability to balance commercial outcomes with empathy and integrity.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially around cultural transformation and change management, and be ready to discuss how you approached them and what the outcomes were.
✨Demonstrate Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with people metrics and trends relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform HR strategies and improve employee engagement. This will show that you can make informed decisions that align with the company's objectives.
