People Partner; Defence

Job Title

People Partner

Local to Basingstoke & Bracknell

UK Head People Partner

As a People Partner, you will act as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to business leaders and strategic HR Business Partners to support the delivery of people initiatives that drive performance, engagement, and growth across the UK workforce. You may be assigned to work across various areas of the UK business and will collaborate with the wider HR function, including Centres of Excellence, Strategic HRBPs and HR Shared Services, to ensure alignment between business goals and people strategies.

• Project Leadership
  • Lead the planning, execution and delivery of local and cross‑functional HR projects.
  • Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines and success metrics.
  • Types of HR projects include:
  • Organisational Change & Transformation – restructures, change management, consultation, org design, redundancy.
  • HR Calendar Items – talent review, pay planning, engagement.
  • HR Process & Policy Improvement – implementing new policies, reviewing existing policies, ensuring compliance.
  • Business Partnering & Stakeholder Engagement – providing trusted advice to senior leaders and supporting leadership teams.
  • Implementation Projects – new initiatives, employee & manager enablement, communication and localisation of new processes.
  • Complex Employee Relations Projects – managing sensitive, high‑impact or multi‑layered employee issues.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Collaborate with Business Leaders, Senior HR Business Partners, Centres of Excellence, HR Shared Services and the wider UK People Partner Team to ensure alignment and buy‑in.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, providing expert HR guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Change Management
  • Develop and implement change management strategies to support successful adoption of project outcomes.
  • Communicate effectively with impacted teams and individuals.
• Data & Insights
  • Use data and analytics to inform project design, track progress and evaluate impact.
  • Provide regular updates and reports to stakeholders.
• Compliance & Governance
  • Ensure all projects comply with employment law, internal policies and ethical standards.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and audit trails.

• Project and Change Management
  • Proficient in project planning tools such as MS Excel or similar.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities.
  • Ability to lead people through change with empathy and clarity.
• Strategic Thinking and Business Acumen
  • Understand the broader business context and align HR initiatives with organisational goals.
  • Translate strategy into actionable plans.
• Stakeholder Management and Influence
  • Build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.
  • Influence without authority and manage resistance to change.
• Analytical and Data‑Driven Decision Making
  • Comfortable working with HR metrics, dashboards and workforce analytics.
  • Use data to inform decisions, measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
• Communication and Facilitation
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Confident in facilitating workshops, focus groups and group discussions.
• HR Expertise and Legal Knowledge
  • Strong understanding of employment law, HR policies and best practices.
  • Practical application of HR knowledge within a project context.
• Employment Relations Expertise
  • Experience managing complex ER cases such as restructures, consultation, redundancy with fairness, consistency and legal compliance.
  • Coach managers on ER matters and ensure alignment with organisational values and legal obligations.
• Resilience and Agility
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and able to adapt to changing priorities.
  • Maintain focus and momentum under pressure.
• Must be willing and eligible to undertake security clearance.

• 26 days annual leave plus public holidays (3 flexible days)
• Pension – double matching contributions of up to 10%
• Life assurance
• Company‑wide incentive plans
• Flexible benefits such as increased holidays, travel, dental, critical illness and more
• Employee discounts
• Employee assistance programme / virtual GP
• Private medical
• Company car or car allowance

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

All applicants are considered for selection based on the skills, knowledge, and experience required for the job regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or any other protected status.