HR Business Partner; Head of HR

Overview

UK-wide (home-based with frequent travel) – £85,000 + Company Car (or allowance) + Benefits. This role is for an experienced HR Business Partner with true Head of HR-level scope, influence and responsibility to lead the people agenda across the national retail operation of a major UK retailer undergoing significant growth and transformation. With more than 20,000 employees, 600+ sites and a rapid expansion plan, this is an opportunity to shape the HR strategy, partnering closely with senior operational leaders and driving meaningful organisational change.

The organisation is fast-paced and commercially driven, with a culture that values pragmatism, autonomy and trust. The HR function is partway through a strategic reset, with new leadership in place and a clear mandate to modernise, professionalise and strengthen the people agenda. As the senior HR partner for the national retail division, you will:

• Partner directly with senior operational leaders including Regional Managers, Area Managers and central retail leadership.
• Build credibility quickly in an environment where HR is evolving towards a more strategic, commercially aligned model.
• Lead the people strategy across eight UK regions, influencing the performance, capability and culture of a large, complex field population.
• Play a central role in organisation design, workforce planning, talent development and leadership capability.
• Drive more structured, consistent and scalable HR practices – but with pragmatism and sensitivity to what will "land" in a fast-moving retail environment.

This is not a first step-up role. You will already operate confidently at scale and at senior level.

• Strategic HR Partnering
• Organisation Design & Change Leadership
• Talent, Performance & Capability
• Employee Relations & Engagement
• Data, Insight & Workforce Analytics

• Scope equivalent to Head of HR
  , with direct access to senior operational and people leadership.
• A business with huge growth ambition – moving toward 700+ and ultimately 1,000 sites.
• A chance to shape a function mid-transformation, with significant freedom to influence, build, design and modernise.
• A field-based, relationship-driven role with genuine impact and autonomy.
• A company car is provided due to the national travel requirement.

• A highly credible HR Business Partner already operating at senior/Head of HR level in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
• Strong commercial acumen able to translate people strategy into operational success.
• Emotionally intelligent, pragmatic and able to influence senior stakeholders with balance and maturity.
• Experience across organisational change, talent development, ER, leadership coaching and OD.
• Someone energised by complexity, pace and building something better than what currently exists.

This role will suit someone who enjoys creating order from ambiguity
, building relationships at pace
, and raising standards pragmatically rather than idealistically
.

Desired Skills and Experience
human resources, business partner, recruitment, employee relations, retail, strategic