HR Business Partner in Norwich

I am pleased to be exclusively recruiting for an HR Business Partner on behalf of a leading manufacturing business. This role will work closely with senior leaders and managers to deliver people strategies that support business priorities, strengthen organisational capability, and drive performance across a multi-site manufacturing operation. It is a broad, hands-on position encompassing the full people agenda. The organisation is on a significant transformation journey, evolving HR into a service that truly partners the business. The successful HR Business Partner will play a key role in shaping new ways of working and embedding a genuine business partnering model. This opportunity will suit someone energised by change, motivated by building strong, trusted relationships, and driven to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide confident, pragmatic guidance on people and employee relations matters, including investigations and risk management, supporting leaders to deliver fair, consistent and commercially sound outcomes.
• Deliver the people plan and HR strategy through the planning, creation and implementation of projects as assigned.
• Act as a change leader in the transformation of people processes, supporting wider transformation programmes and embedding a true HR Business Partner approach, aligned to organisational values.
• Champion recruitment, retention and engagement strategies that attract high-quality talent and support long-term retention.
• Use HR data, insight and workforce intelligence to identify trends, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
• Support and continuously improve a full range of generalist HR services across the employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance, data accuracy, cultural alignment and a consistent employee experience.
• Work proactively and collaboratively with site leadership teams to support the management and resolution of employee relations matters.
• Review, update and develop HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with statutory and best practice changes.
• Prepare and present HR briefings, reports and insights, including the delivery of bite-sized training on people-related topics.
• Attend operational sites regularly to support HR matters and deliver face-to-face engagement with leaders and employees.
• Support the development and delivery of the organisation’s ESG agenda.
• Contribute to the leadership and management development agenda through coaching, constructive challenge and capability building.
• Support succession planning and the development of talent pipelines to ensure future organisational success.

Person Specification

• A collaborative approach with a strong focus on enhancing the employee experience across the full lifecycle.
• A people-first mindset balanced with strong commercial awareness.
• Confident navigating ambiguity, complexity and organisational change.
• Strong judgement with the ability to influence and challenge effectively at all levels.
• High levels of curiosity, empathy and professionalism, with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Comfortable operating as a visible, trusted partner to senior leaders and managers.
• Strong, up-to-date working knowledge of UK employment law, with experience advising on complex employee relations matters and organisational risk.
• Proven experience working within multi-site operations.
• Demonstrates integrity, discretion and professionalism at all times.

Qualifications & Experience

• CIPD Level 7 qualified, postgraduate HR qualification, or equivalent experience (minimum 5 years).
• Proven experience operating as an HR Business Partner within a fast-paced, change-driven environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of operational business needs.

The role will offer a salary of up to £65k + bonus. It will require you to be based on site 4 days a week and 1 optional day home working.