Senior HR Business Partner / L&D Lead in Edinburgh

Talan Data x AI is a leading Data Management and Analytics consultancy, working closely with leading software vendors and top industry experts across a range of sectors, unlocking value and insight from their data. At Talan Data x AI, innovation is at the heart of our client offerings, and we help companies to further improve their efficiency with modern processes and technologies, such as Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). We have recently been recertified as a 2026 Great Place to Work®. This achievement highlights Talan Data x AI’s positive organisational culture and strengthens its reputation as an employer of choice within the industry. We invest heavily in the training and development of our teams and hold regular socials in each region to encourage engagement and network building.

The HR Team is a small, people-focused team, motivated by creating the best working environment for everyone in our company every day. We work closely with our management team and consultants to ensure that our people policies and processes reflect our values and facilitate everyone to be their best. We want everyone to reach their potential!

We are committed to creating an inclusive, innovative, and high-performing workplace where every employee can thrive. We believe in investing in our people through continuous learning and development, fostering a culture of growth and engagement. Join us and be part of a team that values collaboration, creativity, and excellence.

The Role

This is a new role, reporting to the Head of People and Engagement and undertaking a variety of HR activities and responsibilities, including leading on Learning & Development initiatives. It will best suit someone who has been working in a HR discipline and has preferably at least three to four years’ experience in either a customer facing HR Business Partner or HR Operations role. Being a senior position, it offers a high level of autonomy and requires the ability to lead on employee relations and business partnering projects and initiatives.

The primary objective of this role is to partner with consultants, management and other HR stakeholders to maximise their effectiveness in building and leading highly successful and engaged teams. The main success factors for this position are knowledge of the business and maintaining relationships, in addition to being able to lead processes and implement change. Strong and effective communication, alongside confident influencing of management at all levels is key. You are therefore likely to have experience of leading change and coaching people managers to create a working environment where everyone can achieve their potential and career goals. This role is instrumental in helping the business to be successful and enriching our employees’ experience and work-life.

Your passion and energy as well as your knowledge and experience as an HR professional are key to being successful in this role. Based in our Edinburgh office, we offer flexibility to enable some working from home. It is anticipated that you will work from our Edinburgh office 2-3 days per week or visiting consultants in other UK locations. There is therefore a requirement for some travel within the UK to engage with our consultants in other offices/regions.

Main Responsibilities and objectives:

• Build strong relationships with individual employees, managers and teams as part of providing an HR Business Partnering service to a defined population of consultants.
• Operating in a generalist remit to advocate, communicate and participate in the provision of a range of company policies and processes related to the working environment and full employee lifecycle.
• Work closely with the business and be a trusted and credible advisor to senior leaders and the teams you support, influencing and supporting change initiatives and being a trusted voice on employee relations as needed.
• Remain updated on HR practices; sharing knowledge and proactively making and implementing recommendations, driving improvements to people related policies and processes where required.
• Support employees and managers in driving forward and managing their careers as part of a defined promotions process.
• Act as the UK lead for Learning & Development, driving the design, delivery and continuous enhancement of the annual L&D plan, ensuring alignment with business priorities.
• Key involvement in the Early Careers programme, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives.
• Conduct learning needs analyses across consultant groups and leadership populations, translating insights into targeted development initiatives and capability-building programmes.
• Oversee the implementation and communication of learning frameworks.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning and knowledge-sharing, role-modelling development behaviours within the HR team and across the wider business.
• Stay informed on HR and L&D best practice, sharing knowledge proactively and recommending improvements to policies, processes and employee experience.
• Assist with the gathering of management information as required to aid decision making.
• Remain flexible to support changing business priorities in relation to strategic and operational objectives.

Your expertise and skills:

• An experienced and confident HR professional, with expertise in employee relations as well as a range of people disciplines, such as performance management and learning and development.
• Possesses an excellent working knowledge of UK employment law and practices.
• Drives employee engagement and has experience in internal communication.
• Proven ability to influence and assist leadership and management at all levels in bringing about positive change.
• Proactive and keen to be involved in a variety of tasks and projects.
• Interested in helping and coaching others to develop their knowledge and skills as part of their career development.
• An effective and confident communicator with the ability to build great working relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Excited by technology and data, with a desire to push beyond your immediate role and work collaboratively across the HR team and broader business.
• Flexible in approach, and able to prioritise own work, striking a balance between working independently and as part of a team.
• CIPD qualification is desirable but not mandatory.

We offer:

• Competitive salary (depending on experience).
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• 25 days holiday + 8 days.