HR Business Partner (HRBP) in Birmingham

The HR Business Partner (HRBP) plays a pivotal role in enabling business performance by aligning people strategy to organisational priorities. Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, the HRBP translates strategic objectives into workforce plans, organisational design, talent strategies and cultural interventions that drive sustainable results. The role focuses on value creation, leadership effectiveness, change delivery, and capability building, rather than day‑to‑day transactional HR activity.

Responsibilities

• Provide courageous, evidence‑based counsel on organisational effectiveness, leadership capability, workforce risks and opportunities.
• Engage with stakeholders to develop a talent pipeline that satisfies short‑term demand and long‑term strategic needs.
• Collaborate with Recruitment & Mobility team to facilitate internal mobility effectively and efficiently.
• Coach leaders to provide feedback, coaching and development opportunities to optimise employee performance and growth; ensure performance is robustly managed and systems are properly utilised.
• Utilise WSP Listens to drive an active listening culture where colleagues are motivated, engaged and aligned to WSP’s purpose and guiding principles.
• Support leaders to communicate effectively and maintain engagement and trust, especially during periods of change.
• Influence decision‑making at senior level using insights derived from people analytics, engagement data and external benchmarks.
• Maintain a continuous improvement mindset; keep abreast of external best practice.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the wider HR function globally.
• Embed inclusive leadership practices and support diversity, equity and inclusion objectives.
• Steer complex employee relations, organisational change and restructuring activity – oversee the team involved with the ability to lead where necessary (where team capacity or complexity requires it).

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a HR Business Partnering role gained within a matrix model.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering HR support both operationally and strategically, utilising the support of HR shared service teams and centres of expertise to fulfil business needs.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate with credibility at leadership level.
• Strong commercial acumen, interested and experienced in business, commercial and operational issues, their interdependencies and the impact of these on the people agenda.
• Experience in supporting change programmes including embedding a change in culture, emphasis and behaviour.
• Highly analytical, able to analyse, interpret and communicate business, financial and HR data to inform discussions and operational plans.
• Chartered MCIPD or equivalent professional qualification desirable.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity within complex environments and at pace.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.