People Partner in Acocks Green

30 - 37 hours per week / Permanent / Monday - Thursday 0900 - 1700, Friday 0900 - 1630 / hybrid working, requiring a minimum of three days working on sites each week, with up to two days working from home. Flexibility is essential, as the role involves regular travel across West Sussex and Surrey.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice. We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen. We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values – we do what's right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

The People Team are responsible for all aspects of candidate and employee experience across the organisation. We drive organisational performance, compensation, benefits, and people tools and technologies - and oversee the continuing evolution of the organisation's culture.

As a People Partner you will be proactive, curious, and solution focused partner to People Managers across the organisation. Working closely with the Head of People, you will play a key role in improving employee experience, strengthening leadership capability, and embedding a positive and engaging workplace culture.

This hands‐on role requires the ability to shift between operational delivery and strategic priorities, balancing reactive needs with proactive planning to support short, medium, and long‐term organisational objectives. The role blends strategic people partnership with practical HR support, ensuring people practices are consistent, employee‐centred, and aligned with organisational values.

As a trusted People Partner, you will work closely with managers and leaders to build confident, capable people management across the organisation. Acting as a proactive and curious advisor, you will coach and support managers on employee relations, performance, engagement, and employment legislation, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with organisational values. You will lead on complex employee relations matters where needed, promote positive and informal resolution wherever possible, and role‐model a values‐led approach to leadership and culture.

Responsibilities

• Help shape an inclusive, engaging employee experience across the full lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to development, performance, and wellbeing.
• Contribute to workforce planning, learning and development initiatives, policy development and compliance, and the effective delivery of HR operations, including HR data, records, and payroll support.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, using insight and collaboration to drive continuous improvement and deliver a professional, people‐centred HR service that enables both individuals and the organisation to thrive.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don't meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we're looking for.

Qualifications

We are seeking an experienced HR Business Partner with a proven ability to deliver effective, high‐quality HR processes. You will bring a strong track record of working professionally and constructively with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels of the organisation. Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 is essential, while CIPD Level 7 qualification (or working towards it/equivalent experience) is desirable, alongside sound knowledge of ED&I legislation and safeguarding best practice.

You will be comfortable managing a varied employee relations caseload, applying sound judgement, discretion, and a working knowledge of employment law to support fair and consistent outcomes. You will recognise the value of building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders from the outset. Genuinely passionate about developing others, you will partner closely with People Managers to unlock their potential, enabling them to manage and lead their teams with confidence and effectiveness.

You will bring a positive, proactive approach and genuine enthusiasm for the organisation's work, alongside excellent communication, organisation, and problem‐solving skills. Confident working independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment, you will demonstrate strong cultural awareness, professionalism, and attention to detail.