Human Resources Business Partner in Seaham

We are partnering with a growing global manufacturing organisation to recruit an experienced HR Business Partner. This is a broad, hands-on role supporting three UK locations and a US site. Working closely with the HR Director, senior leaders and operational managers, you will provide practical and commercially focused HR support across the full employee lifecycle.

The business operates within a fast-paced and evolving environment, so we are particularly interested in HR professionals who have worked within agile SME or mid-sized manufacturing organisations. You will need to be comfortable balancing day-to-day operational HR responsibilities with wider people initiatives and business partnering.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with managers and senior leaders across the UK and US, providing practical HR advice, coaching and support
• Manage complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, investigations, absence, capability and performance
• Coach and constructively challenge managers to improve leadership capability and people management practices
• Take responsibility for coordinating and reviewing monthly UK and US payroll information
• Ensure payroll changes, including starters, leavers, absence, contractual amendments and one-off payments, are accurate and completed on time
• Support employee benefits administration across the UK and US
• Proactively manage short and long-term absence, working with managers and Occupational Health
• Support performance management processes, including performance improvement plans
• Contribute to employee engagement, learning and development, organisational change and workforce planning initiatives
• Produce and analyse HR data, including headcount, absence, employee turnover and recruitment metrics
• Maintain accurate HR systems and employee records
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems and ways of working
• Support the HR Director with wider people projects across the global business

About You

• An experienced HR Business Partner with a strong generalist HR background
• Previous experience within manufacturing, engineering or another fast-paced operational environment
• Comfortable working within an agile SME or mid-sized business where priorities can change quickly
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Demonstrable experience managing complex employee relations cases
• Experience supporting or coordinating payroll processes
• Confident partnering with senior leaders and operational managers
• Commercial, pragmatic and solutions-focused
• Able to work autonomously and manage competing priorities across multiple locations
• Strong HR systems, reporting and data capability
• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent experience, would be desirable
• Previous exposure to US HR, payroll or employee benefits would be advantageous, although it is not essential

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join an evolving global manufacturing business and take ownership of a varied HR remit across the UK and US. The initial contract is for 18 months. However, as the organisation continues to grow and evolve, there may be an opportunity for the role to be extended or become permanent for the right person.

Please get in touch for a confidential discussion.