Human Resources Business Partner

Junior HR Business Partner

Strong operational HR is about resolving today’s issues while helping managers prevent tomorrow’s. This HR Business Partner role offers scope to do both: leading complex employee relations, strengthening management capability and turning people insight into practical business decisions.

Working across multi-site operations across the UK and Ireland, you’ll partner with managers and operational leaders to deliver commercially focused people support. It’s a broad generalist role combining hands-on case ownership with organisational change, workforce planning and HR project delivery. Please note you will need to undertake national travel (at least fortnightly).

The role

You’ll build trusted relationships across your assigned business areas, understand operational priorities and provide clear advice and constructive challenge. The aim is to balance fair, consistent people practices with workable commercial solutions.

Your remit will include:

• Employee relations and absence: Lead disciplinary, grievance, performance, capability, conduct and attendance cases. Coach managers to investigate thoroughly, follow fair processes and reach evidence-based outcomes in line with employment law, external codes of practice and company policy. Manage complex and long-term absence, including occupational health, adjustments and return-to-work planning, escalating sensitive or high-risk matters appropriately.

• Business partnering and resourcing: Own workforce and vacancy planning within partnered areas, challenge persistent recruitment gaps and escalate risks that could affect business performance, including beyond the HR Operations Manager where needed.

• Change and project delivery: Lead or support restructures, consultations, contractual changes, TUPE and integration activity. Take agreed HR strategy projects from inception through implementation and completion, and support the adoption of new people systems and processes.

• Manager and team capability: Design and deliver training, workshops, briefings and practical toolkits covering employment law, recruitment, ER, development and organisational change. Coach managers and mentor junior HR colleagues, sharing knowledge across the wider team.

• People programmes and policy: Support talent, succession, appraisal and management development. Ensure cyclical programmes—including the Engagement Survey, Driving Performance and Supporting Success—are communicated, planned and delivered on time. Work with the Lead HRBP, HR Advisor and HR Operations to develop policies and guidance that work in practice.

• Insight and employee representation: Build meaningful management information from HR Operations data and case records, using ER, absence, turnover, engagement and workforce trends to drive and measure improvements. Develop constructive relationships and conduct negotiations with trade unions and employee representative groups.

What you’ll bring

You’ll have skilled generalist HR experience, including ownership of complex ER casework, and experience supporting organisational change and projects such as TUPE and M&A in an operational environment.

Strong UK employment law knowledge is vital (gained by time spent in a UK-based HR role). You’ll be confident coaching and influencing managers, interpreting people information and translating it into clear recommendations.

CIPD qualification, study towards it or equivalent experience is welcomed. A full driving licence and willingness to travel are required.

Practical judgement, organisation, confidentiality and accuracy will matter, as will a collaborative, inclusive approach.

Interviews (2 stage process beginning with a teams call) will take place at short notice so apply immediately , quoting ref: HE-FLK-783.

This vacancy is being advertised by Fólk Recruitment Ltd, an employment agency, in accordance with the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or ag e.