People Culture and Communications Business Partner (12-month Contract)

We are looking for a strategic and adaptive People Business Partner (12-month fixed term contract) who is confident partnering in fast-paced and agile working environments, whilst offering invaluable insights into business transformation and change management. Providing strong mentorship in our small People, Culture and Communications team, the successful candidate will enjoy being part of a nurturing team where they can have real influence, while guiding our day-to-day managers and driving key departmental operations.

We’re a team that gets things done— driving our three value pillars of Performance, Engagement, and Transformation everyday to continually strive for improvement and high performance working.

This is a part-time hybrid position (27.5 hours per week), with the expectation that employees will report to our office in Reading. During the initial weeks, more frequent visits may be required.

Please note: As part of our recruitment process, our parent company may be involved in supporting hiring activities and may access your application. All data shared and accessed during this process will be handled in accordance with our data protection, data retention policies, and privacy notice.

Primary Purpose of the Position

• Provide business partnering for leadership and line managers in relation to business strategy, change and transformation.
• Consult and support of leadership and employees in all organizational and personnel topics.
• Provide strong mentorship and support for PCC Coordinator to drive learning and development and core people operations (recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, engagement) with the goal of upskilling the PCC Coordinator for the Business Partner role.
• Advise, guide and support employees and line managers on various Employee Relations cases, such as investigations, grievances, disciplinaries and absence management in partnership with PCC Coordinator. 
• Partnering with SLT to support cultural transformation across the business, to drive high performing culture.
• Actively develop the PCC department to empower our people, drive transformation, and ensure compliance. Aligning with Parent Company (Niterra GmbH) appropriately to ensure efficient use of available resources while retaining our culture.
• Ensure compliance with local legislation, Niterra HQ and local policies/procedures to drive key people initiatives (e.g. appraisal process). 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

HR Policies/ Procedures & Payroll

• Support with all escalated HR/payroll related queries
•  Review all HR policies & procedures and perform updates as required in line with local legislation.
• Coach, mentor and educate employees & line managers as required in line with our HR policies & procedures

Employee Lifecycle:

•  Support PCC Coordinator in troubleshooting onboarding/ offboarding / recruitment processes where required, which includes drafting offer letters/contracts/documentation, benefits administration, HR inductions, right to work checks and payroll setup/ recruitment processes 
• Ensure HR systems are updated to reflect above actions in a timely manner

Employee Relations (ER):

• Partner with line managers to coach and guide them through various ER processes, such as: Grievances, investigations, disciplinaries, absence management - in partnership with PCC Coordinator
• Provide guidance and support throughout formal process, ensuring clear documentation and communication in line with local legislation and best practice
• Escalate any possible risk to business to Chief Executive Officer for immediate attention/resolution
• Partner with SLT to lead the business transformation from a PCC perspective, ensuring cultural changes and resulting transformation actions remain compliant and mitigate for financial and operational risk

Projects and Processes

• Operate as a collaborative business partner to drive key projects, including the appraisal cycle and other salary reviews 
• Use an evidence-based approach to drive future initiatives and change (e.g. exit interview data)
• Up-keep and continuously improve our Employee handbook, policies, and key initiatives 

Compliance:

• Ensure compliance of HR policies/procedures
• Ensure local legislation and risk to business is considered at all times
• Support leadership with gaining legal advice and provide documentation as required, in a timely manner

Experience 

• Minimum 5 years proven experience in PCC/HR Management
• Prior experience in Business & Cultural Transformation
• Exceptional skills with a clear and concise communication style and passion process improvement
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills with networking abilities
• Willingness to partner, collaborate and influence across functional areas
• Excellent and up to date knowledge of UK employment law and legalisation
• Experience managing benefits administration

Knowledge and Skills 

• High level of prioritisation, initiative, perseverance and flexibility
• Able to guide, coach and influence people
• Strategic mindset
• Business Transformation/ Change/ Organisational Development Specialist- with experience in supporting SME’s in business transformation and change management 
• Strong Business Acumen 
• Continuous improvement (operations and learning).
• Good listening and communication skills across all levels
• Strong experience within a fast-paced organisation
• Pro-active and hands-on mentality

Benefits

• Hybrid /flexible working
• Holidays: 25 days per annum + 1 Day Birthday Leave
• Private Medical Insurance (70% Company funded). Family cover is available.
• Life Assurance (4x basic salary)
• Pension: 5.5% Employer contribution (5% Employee contribution)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flu vaccinations allowance
• Eye test allowance
• 2 volunteering days
• Elective work location change (work from anywhere)
• Holiday Buy-Back Scheme: Buy up to 5 days additional holiday (After 1 years' service)