Business Partner

As WMCA transitions to a Target Operating Model, our People BPs will become central to embedding people strategy into planning, decision-making, and leadership practices. They will play a strategic and influential role in enabling driven, inclusive, innovative and collaborative people leadership across WMCA's directorates. You'll be a trusted advisor and critical friend to senior leaders. The role ensures that people priorities are fully aligned with service goals and organisational values.

Our recent appointment of Sarah Lal as our Chief People & Culture Officer marks a significant step in strengthening leadership across the People & Culture function, helping to shape a seamless, values‑led service that supports the achievement of WMCA's strategic objectives, annual business plans, and Mayoral priorities. The People BP will support the organisation in evolving how services are shaped and how these priorities are delivered working to a matrix structure, and at the same time ensuring that people and culture remain at the heart of transformation and change.

Please note, this is a FTC until 31st December 2026, covering an internal secondment.

• Act as a strategic partner to senior leaders, embedding people priorities into planning, decision-making, and change programmes.
• Design and deliver people strategies that drive performance, inclusion, and organisational growth.
• Lead on complex employee relations, organisational change, and leadership development.
• Use workforce data and insight to influence decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Build trusted relationships to support confident, inclusive leadership across WMCA.
• Collaborate across People & Culture functions to deliver a seamless, values‑led service.
• Champion fairness, wellbeing, and consistency in people practices.
• Contribute to strategic projects that support transformation and enable people to thrive.

• Proven experience in a strategic HR or people partnering role within a complex organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and shape people responses to business challenges.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional input from HR specialisms (e.g. ER, Reward, OD, Inclusion).
• Evidence of supporting organisational change processes.
• Evidence of using coaching skills to develop manager's competence and confidence in dealing with people management issues.
• Strong understanding of employment law, people policy, and organisational change.
• Skilled in using people data and insight to inform decisions and drive improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A flexible, consultative and solution‑focused approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a high level of tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• A proven track record of delivery in a high‑pressure environment and working to pace.
• Ability to exercise effective judgement and risk.
• Problem‑solving and analytical capability.
• Educated to at least degree level.
• CIPD qualified to level 5.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD
with at least 2 days a week spent in the office and/or appropriate to the role.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year‑on‑year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more)
• EV car benefit scheme
• Ethical saving options and healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest free financing through Smart Tech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more.