Human Resources Business Partner - Retail

Human Resources Business Partner - Retail

Up to 12‑month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave

Based in Reading area, covering South West (Swindon, Basingstoke, Bristol, Brighton areas)

We are looking for an HR Business Partner to join our friendly and dynamic team here at Waterstones for up to 12 months to cover maternity leave. You will be a friendly and approachable HR generalist who can act as a strategic people partner to your business area, ensuring a value‑added people service is provided that enhances business performance and puts people at the heart of our culture.

• Work with your respective Senior Retail Manager and Retail Manager’s on the strategic people plan and vision for the given area.
• Coach, challenge and support managers on their accountability for the creation and delivery of their people plans, continuously reviewing to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
• Continuously improve leadership and manager capability building empowerment and confidence by challenging, influencing and supporting in a way that increases knowledge, understanding and ability to manage people effectively at all levels.
• Support management to effectively complete key people management processes by supporting and contributing on performance and career progression discussions.
• Analyse HR and business data to identify trends and proactively review with relevant managers.
• Advise on all Employee Relations issues, company policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance and advice and where necessary deliver investigation, disciplinary and grievance hearings through to completion; ensuring robust audit trails are in place for all cases.
• Work with L&D to identify the right people for People Support roles. Work in collaboration ensuring they have the necessary skills to perform in role.
• Lead on mental health conversations, encourage an environment of openness, providing support and guidance to employees and signposting appropriate external support at the right time.
• Coach individual managers and carry out training sessions, where required and led by business need, on HR related issues, including reviews, absence management and managing individual performance and behaviour, to up‑skill managers to be able to carry out difficult conversations.
• Support your area in the practice of effective recruitment and talent management strategies ensuring we attract, develop and retain key talent. Ensure effective succession plans are in place.
• Work collaboratively across the entire HR team, sharing knowledge to ensure a consistent approach across the company.
• Lead on the design and delivery of people focused projects across areas / locations and the wider business, designed to add value.
• Create, develop and embed HR policies and tools that are reflective of our culture whilst providing framework and guidance for managers to feel empowered leading their people and including up‑to‑date legislation. Ensure central people communications are cascaded, monitored and where necessary feedback responses.
• Have a regular presence / visibility within the core management team for the area/s.

• Experience working as a HRBP / equivalent.
• Working in a multi‑site environment preferably within a fast‑paced retail business.
• Broad generalist HR experience across all disciplines.
• Strong ER exposure particularly dealing with grievances, absence management, investigations and disciplinary issues.
• Delivery of effective performance management processes.
• Broad knowledge of HR procedures and policies.
• Coaching and training experience to deliver bespoke training to all levels of management.
• Ability to plan, prioritise workload and manage time based on business need.
• Ability to build and maintain key relationships – to advise and influence constructively at all levels.
• Ability to multitask and work autonomously.
• Ability to communicate effectively and comfortably across all levels of the business.

• Genuine passion to deliver better bookshops through our people.
• Customer service focused.
• Commercially astute.
• Collaborative and considered.
• Results driven.
• Pragmatic & adaptable.
• Approachable and reactive.
• Resilient and balanced.
• Posit…