Purpose of the Role
The Senior HR Business Partner is the senior HR Advisory lead for the South region, providing visible, commercially focused and hands-on HR support across a varied portfolio of properties.
A significant proportion of the role involves personally managing complex and high-risk employee relations matters, organisational change and TUPE activity. Alongside this operational casework, the role provides regional leadership, senior stakeholder advice, case governance, manager coaching and insight-led interventions to improve organisational capability and reduce future people risk.
Key Responsibilities
Advisory - Employee Relations and Regional Case Management
· Support and guide managers through the full spectrum of employee relations matters, performance improvement, disciplinary processes, redundancies, exits and complex employment situations with a thorough understanding of UK employment law.
· Manage a high volume and varied employee relations case load, guiding and advising line managers/surveyors with the interpretation and implementation of policies and procedures, including disciplinary, grievance, performance/capability, sickness absence etc.
· Attend employee relations meetings as required, (e.g. disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, flexible working etc). Compile and issue all appropriate HR documentation required within employee relations cases.
· Support and, where authorised, lead complex exit strategies, including without-prejudice discussions and settlement agreement negotiations, working with the Head of HR Advisory and legal advisers in accordance with delegated authority.
· Discuss any restructure proposals with the Surveyor / Line Manager to design the business/HR strategy to move forward with facilitating this process and manage any potential redundancy situations arising as a result of restructure proposals.
Business Partnering
· Drive a standardised and consistent approach to HR, enhancing the overall employee experience.
· Work with the Head of HR Advisory to gather insights and leverage data analytics and predictive analysis to pre-empt future workforce concerns, utilising insights to proactively seek and implement solutions.
· Support the delivery of the People+ strategy and lead agreed HR projects and initiatives across the South region, establishing clear objectives, milestones, stakeholder responsibilities and measures of success.
· Manage relationships and expectations to provide proactive, commercially sound insights and solutions addressing HR challenges across the region.
TUPE
· Lead incoming and outgoing TUPE activity across the region, advising on due diligence, employee liability information, measures, consultation, workforce communication, legal and commercial risks, and post-transfer integration. Coordinate with operational teams, clients, suppliers and legal advisers to support compliant and well-managed transfers.
Procedures
· Keep abreast of changes in relevant employment law legislation and ensure that the Company complies. Attend seminars / training programs to enhance knowledge.
· Actively contribute to the review and development of SMR employment policies, procedures, manager guidance, templates and HR documentation, ensuring they remain legally compliant, practical and aligned with business requirements.
Record Keeping
· Maintain complete, accurate and timely electronic case records on the Company’s approved HR and case-management systems, in line with data protection requirements, retention schedules and internal access controls.
· Draft and maintain ER documentation and case files to a high standard, ensuring accurate record-keeping and legal defensibility.
· Ensure employee confidentiality is maintained at all times and data protection legislation is adhered to.
Recruitment & Selection
· Provide line managers with general advice on following a fair and consistent recruitment process.
· Assist the HR Operations team where necessary to ensure the job description and person specifications are complete for all roles being recruited to.
· Attend interviews when appropriate.
General
· Take overall accountability for the quality, prioritisation and governance of HR advisory support across the allocated region, ensuring complex and high-risk matters are escalated appropriately and resources are deployed effectively.
· Regular travel to and presence on properties within the geographic region. Additionally, some national travel and over-night stays are required from time to time for events such as team meetings, training and assistance within other regions.
· Liaise with the HR Operations team to arrange for new starters documentation to be issued where appropriate and review prepared employment contracts.
· Liaise with the HR Operations Team to keep records up to date and ensure standard letters are issued in a timely manner.
· Ensure efficient communications within internal teams and to appropriate third parties, where applicable.
· Liaise with the Operations Support Teams on issues such as TUPE, Health and Safety and Security.
· Liaise with the Pathways Training team on the training needs of employees and assist with Inductions, where appropriate.
· Work with wider HR team on the implementation of the People+ Strategy, including working on ad hoc HR projects.
· Attend scheduled meetings within the department to ensure that all members are aware of all key issues.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge and Skills
· Comprehensive and current knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS guidance and recognised HR practice.
· Expert practical knowledge of complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, sickness absence, flexible working, whistleblowing, appeals and complex exits.
· Detailed working knowledge of TUPE, including due diligence, employee liability information, measures, consultation, workforce communication and post-transfer integration.
· Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and legally robust correspondence, reports, consultation materials and case documentation.
· Experience in property management, facilities management, outsourced services or another dispersed operational environment is highly desirable.
Qualifications
· Degree-level education desirable
· CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualified (or equivalent experience)
· Evidence of continuing professional development and maintaining current employment-law knowledge.
Experience Required
· 5+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2-3 years in people business partnering or regional people operations.
· Ability to operate at both a strategic and hands-on operational level, moving comfortably between advising senior leaders and undertaking detailed case management and documentation.
· Strong influencing and relationship-management skills, with the credibility to advise and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
· Practical experience of participating in procedural meetings and in advising on HR issues, including appeal level.
· Ability to provide balanced, risk-aware advice in a fast-paced business environment.
Working Hours - 37.5hrs
