People Partner

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive.

Job Title: People Partner (HR Business Partner)

Location: Warwick/Hybrid

Contract Type: 6 months initial (potential extension up to 12 months)

Role Overview

This is an interim People Partner role (externally aligned to HR Business Partner level), appointed to provide additional capacity, continuity, and delivery support within the People function during a period of significant organisational change and peak demand.

The role is hands-on and delivery-focused, rather than centred on long-term strategic design. It will play a key role in maintaining momentum across critical people initiatives while providing senior stakeholder support.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering & Leadership Support

• Act as the primary People Partner for assigned business areas, aligning people strategy with business objectives
• Coach and advise senior leaders on employee experience, performance, capability, and organisational effectiveness
• Build strong, trusted relationships and provide proactive, commercially focused HR support
• Facilitate communication between business areas and the wider People function

Workforce Planning (Essential)

• Deliver and implement strategic workforce plans already in place
• Translate workforce strategy into practical, operational outcomes
• Support leaders in resource planning aligned to future business needs

Organisational Development & Job Architecture

• Lead delivery of the final phase of job architecture implementation
• Map roles into existing frameworks, ensuring consistency and alignment
• Develop and refine job descriptions, skills, and capability frameworks
• Facilitate alignment across stakeholders with differing priorities

Change & Culture

• Support cultural transformation and people-related change initiatives
• Embed performance-focused behaviours and practices across leadership teams
• Contribute to engagement, inclusion, and leadership development initiatives

Performance & Talent

• Support delivery of the performance management cycle, including calibration processes
• Contribute to talent, succession, and capability planning
• Help implement EVP and talent initiatives to attract and retain talent

Employee Relations (Advisory)

• Provide guidance to leaders on outcomes of complex ER cases
• Support implementation of recommendations (not case ownership)

Continuous Improvement & Insight

• Use internal and external insights to inform decision-making
• Ensure People practices are modern, effective, and aligned to business needs
• Identify and drive process improvements where appropriate

About You

We are looking for a commercially minded, delivery-focused HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, changing environment.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a People Partner/HR Business Partner
• Strong track record of working with senior leadership teams
• Demonstrated delivery in:
  • Workforce planning (essential)
  • Organisational change and transformation
  • Role design/organisational effectiveness
• Experience operating in complex or matrixed organisations

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Ability to translate strategy into clear, actionable outcomes
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Confident coaching senior leaders
• High level of resilience and adaptability in changing environments
• Strong facilitation skills and attention to detail

Knowledge & Mindset

• Commercially aware with the ability to align people strategy to business value
• Forward-thinking, with awareness of external trends and best practice
• Practical and execution-focused ("a doer") rather than purely theoretical

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 (or equivalent experience)

Apply now!

Please be advised: if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours, then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion. We may, however, keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you accordingly.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.