At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic people initiatives and partner with executive leaders to drive organisational change.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Sainsbury's, where HR is done differently.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and amazing discounts on shopping.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of inclusivity and continuous development with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on company culture and colleague experience while shaping future leaders.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior HR roles and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 62550 - 76450 £ per year.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Schedule: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Advertised Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location Hybrid - London Head Office and Home
About the team
Our People Division helps create the leadership, capability and culture needed to deliver sustainable business performance. In this high-profile partnering team, you will work across People, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Services, connecting divisional leaders with specialist People teams to turn business priorities into focused, practical people plans. It is an opportunity to influence at the heart of the organisation, helping senior leaders shape inclusive teams, strengthen capability and deliver change with a positive colleague experience.
More about the role
As Head of People Partnering, you will be the strategic people partner to the Chief People Officer, General Legal Counsel & Company Secretary, Corporate Affairs Director and their leadership teams. You will provide insight, constructive challenge and guidance across leadership, organisation, talent and culture, ensuring each area's priorities are supported by a clear people plan aligned with the wider People strategy.
Day-to-day, you will use people and business data to identify opportunities, coach senior leaders and shape interventions that improve performance and organisational effectiveness. You will lead the people aspects of transformation and organisation design, strengthen succession and development plans for critical roles, and ensure effective delivery of core people processes. Working through cross-functional teams and People Centres of Expertise, you will turn strategy into coordinated delivery while maintaining engagement and performance through change. You will also lead a People Partner at C4 level.
More about you
You are an experienced senior people partner who can connect commercial priorities with practical people outcomes. You build credible relationships with executive stakeholders, use evidence to challenge constructively and are comfortable navigating complex organisations where priorities can evolve quickly. You can move between strategic thinking and delivery, bringing clarity to ambiguous issues and creating alignment across leadership teams and specialist partners.
Your approach is inclusive, collaborative and outcomes-focused. You coach leaders to improve effectiveness, bring breadth across talent, leadership development, organisational design and employee relations, and use data to make clear recommendations. You understand how culture, capability, structure and colleague experience combine to enable sustainable performance.
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience operating as a senior HR or People Business Partner/ Head of People within a complex commercial organisation.
- Proven experience partnering with and influencing executive leadership stakeholders, including constructively challenging decisions.
- Evidence of creating, owning and delivering people strategies/ strategic people plans linked to measurable business or organisational outcomes through cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrable experience leading the people elements of organisational change, transformation or organisation design while maintaining colleague engagement and delivery.
- CIPD Level 7, or an equivalent combination of senior people-partnering knowledge, skills and experience, together with evidence of using people and business data to inform recommendations.
Qualifications
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.
Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 65% of salary, depending on how we perform (in cash and shares).
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- You'll also receive a company car cash allowance unless you are going to travel 10,000 business miles in your role, then you'll be able to choose a car.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Responsibilities
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work–life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. We’re the first to say we do HR differently here. For a start, we work as business partners and specialists — whether that’s making sure nearly 150,000 colleagues are paid on time, or shaping a strategy that helps us attract the right people, put them in the right place, and unlock their potential. This is a fast-moving business, and our policies and rewards evolve with it. That’s why we’re as flexible as we can be about where and when you work. We’re also flexible about your future. There’s always room to move up or across, if that’s what you want. We really value different perspectives, so there’s no one opinion, no single path, and yours matters.
Head of People - People, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Services employer: Sainsbury's Bank
As a Programme Manager at our company, you'll be part of a dynamic and inclusive team dedicated to driving large-scale transformation initiatives within the logistics sector. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development, offers flexible working arrangements, and provides an extensive range of benefits including generous discounts, performance-related bonuses, and comprehensive healthcare options. Join us to not only advance your career but also contribute to meaningful projects that impact millions of customers every day.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People - People, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Services
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Sainsbury's Bank!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Sainsbury's Bank.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People - People, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Sainsbury's Bank. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Sainsbury's Bank and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Sainsbury's Bank. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Sainsbury's Bank's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Bank
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Sainsbury's Bank.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Sainsbury's Bank will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Sainsbury's Bank and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
