Senior HR Business Partner

London & South Region | Hybrid & Site-Based Up to £75,000 + Benefits

Are you a commercially minded HR leader who thrives in operational environments?

The Bukola Group is partnering with a well-established transport and operational services organisation to appoint a Senior HR Business Partner. This is a highly visible role supporting a large, unionised workforce across operational sites and corporate functions.

This is not a desk-based HR position. We're looking for someone who enjoys being embedded within the business, building trusted relationships, influencing senior stakeholders, and making a genuine impact on people and organisational performance.

Regular travel to London as well as sites across the south of the UK and Wales will be required.

What you'll be doing

As a key member of the HR team, you will:

• Lead the full employee lifecycle across operational and support functions
• Partner with senior leaders to deliver strategic and operational HR initiatives
• Manage complex employee relations and industrial relations matters
• Develop strong working relationships with recognised trade unions and support collective bargaining activity
• Lead recruitment activity for your business areas
• Provide expert guidance on organisational change, restructures and TUPE transfers
• Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives
• Coach and upskill managers on people management, performance and employee relations
• Spend the majority of your time within operational environments, building credibility and visibility across the workforce

What we're looking for

We're keen to speak with HR professionals who bring:

• Significant HR Business Partner experience within a unionised, operational environment
• Strong employee relations and industrial relations expertise
• Proven experience working with trade unions and collective bargaining processes
• Sound knowledge of TUPE and organisational change programmes
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience)
• A proactive, hands-on approach and the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication, coaching and relationship-building skills
• The ability and willingness to travel regularly across Southern locations, including Wales

Why consider this opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join a business undergoing continued growth and transformation, where HR is viewed as a genuine business partner. You'll have the autonomy to shape people initiatives, influence key decisions, and make a visible difference across both operational and corporate teams.