Hr Business Partner

HR Business Partner (Employee Relations & Industrial Relations)

📍 Greater London (multi-site role)

We are partnering with a large, established organisation to appoint an experienced HR Business Partner into a highly visible and commercially important role.

This is a hands-on position with a strong focus on employee and industrial relations, supporting a sizeable unionised workforce across multiple locations. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, ensuring the delivery of effective people solutions while maintaining positive employee and trade union relationships.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of HR, you will work closely with operational and functional leaders to provide expert HR support across a broad range of people matters.

A key aspect of the role is managing complex employee relations issues and supporting constructive engagement with recognised trade unions. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where stakeholder management, sound judgement and commercial awareness are critical.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partnering with senior leaders to provide pragmatic and commercially focused HR advice

• Leading and advising on complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability and organisational change cases

• Building effective relationships with trade union representatives and supporting consultation processes

• Providing guidance on employment legislation and HR best practice

• Coaching and developing managers to enhance people management capability

• Identifying trends and risks through people data and recommending appropriate interventions

• Supporting organisational change activity and workforce planning initiatives

• Contributing to wider HR projects and strategic people initiatives

About You

We are seeking an experienced HR professional with a strong background in employee relations and stakeholder management within a unionised environment.

You will bring:

• Proven experience operating as an HR Business Partner or Senior HR Manager

• Extensive employee relations expertise, including the management of complex and high-risk cases

• Strong experience working with recognised trade unions and employee representatives

• Experience supporting consultation, negotiation and organisational change processes

• Sound knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application

• The confidence and credibility to influence and challenge senior stakeholders

• Strong communication, coaching and relationship-building skills

• CIPD qualification (Level 7 or equivalent) desirable

What makes this role different? 

• Opportunity to work in a high-profile role with significant stakeholder exposure

• Complex and varied employee relations environment

• Ability to influence people strategy and organisational effectiveness

• Supportive HR leadership team and opportunity to make a tangible impact

Essential Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience of employee relations and trade union engagement gained within a unionised workforce environment.