Interim HR Business Partner in Chelmsford

Are you an experienced HR Business Partner looking to make an immediate impact? Working on behalf of a reputable fashion organisation, we are recruiting a qualified HR professional on an interim basis to provide full generalist HR support during a period of internal change. This is a hands-on, standalone role with real breadth - you will be the day-to-day HR point of contact for senior leadership, managers and employees across the business. The role offers genuine variety, autonomy and the chance to make an immediate impact in an organisation that takes its people seriously. Chelmsford (One day a week travel to West London) | £350 per day | Immediate Start. Please note: Due to the client's location in Essex you must be a car driver.

Key Responsibilities - Interim HR Business Partner:

• Generalist HR Advisory: Act as the primary HR contact for the Managing Director, managers, store leadership and employees, providing timely, commercially aware generalist HR advice. Provide sound guidance on UK employment law, ensuring the business remains compliant with current and emerging legislation, including the Employment Rights Act 2025. Support and coach managers through the full range of employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance processes, capability, absence management and performance improvement. Lead on complex ER case management, ensuring procedural fairness, proportionality and accurate documentation throughout. Engage with external parties, including legal counsel and ACAS, where required.
• Employee Lifecycle Management: Issue offer letters and contracts of employment for new starters; set up and maintain personnel files, raise Oracle Fusion work items, and carry out right-to-work and ID verification checks. Coordinate employment references via the Recruitment Assistant, ensuring all pre-employment checks are completed in a timely and compliant manner. Manage all leaver processes: issue leaver letters, ensure personnel and electronic files are closed down appropriately, conduct or record exit interviews, and action any post-employment obligations. Produce contract amendment letters for changes to job title, location, working hours or terms; update Oracle Fusion and the payroll system accordingly. Produce all FTC, secondment and intern offer letters; proactively diarise end dates and manage renewals or terminations in a timely manner.
• Onboarding & Induction: Design and coordinate a structured and engaging onboarding experience for all new hires, liaising with each department to secure induction schedules and sending joining information to new employees and their Line Managers. Deliver the HR component of the induction programme, ensuring new employees understand company policies, culture and ways of working from day one.
• Probation & Performance Management: Manage the full probation cycle for all new employees: diarise review dates, issue review communications to Line Managers, manage extensions, and issue confirmation or extension letters accordingly. Support managers in identifying and addressing performance concerns, providing clear guidance on informal and formal processes. Assist with the coordination of the annual performance review cycle where required.
• HR Systems & Data: Maintain Oracle Fusion and Bright HR with all employment changes in real time, including new hires, leavers, job changes and contractual amendments. Act as a superuser for both platforms, ensuring data integrity across HR and payroll. Generate HR management information and reporting as required, using people data to inform decision-making. Ensure GDPR compliance across all HR data management activity.
• Policy, Compliance & Process Improvement: Review, maintain and update HR policies and procedures to reflect current employment legislation and best practice. Identify and implement process improvements across HR operations to increase efficiency and improve the employee experience. Support any change management, restructuring or TUPE activity as required.

About You - Interim HR Business Partner:

You will be an experienced HR Generalist, HR Manager or HR Business Partner who is equally at home advising senior stakeholders and getting hands-on with day-to-day HR operations. You will be used to working at pace in a standalone capacity, can quickly build credibility with leadership, and bring calm authority to a busy HR function.

Essential:

• CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum; Level 7 preferred).
• Proven experience in a generalist HR role at Manager, Generalist or HRBP level, ideally including previous interim or contract assignments.
• Strong, broad HR background covering the full employee lifecycle.
• Solid knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice, including current developments under the Employment Rights Act 2025.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex ER cases independently.
• Confident and credible communicator, able to advise and influence at MD and senior leadership level.
• Experienced with HRIS platforms; Oracle Fusion experience highly advantageous.
• Immediately available or on a notice period of no more than one week.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with Bright HR.
• Experience supporting organisational change, including restructures or transitions.
• Exposure to global or internationally complex organisations.

How to Apply: To register your interest in this interim opportunity, please submit your CV in confidence. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted promptly. For a confidential discussion, please contact our team directly.