Associate Director People Partner

Direct message the job poster from Meet Life Sciences

An exciting opportunity as an Associate Director, People Partner to take a leading role in driving cultural transformation and business performance. This role is ideal for a strategic yet hands‑on HR professional who excels at partnering with leadership teams to deliver meaningful organisational, behavioural, and operational change.

• Partner with senior leaders to design and deliver people strategies that drive culture, capability, and performance.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to business leaders, connecting insights to business priorities and ensuring accountability for outcomes.
• Lead consistent talent assessment and succession planning
  , identifying and developing future leaders and building a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
• Coach leaders to embody the desired culture and enhance team effectiveness, leadership capability, and engagement.
• Drive the understanding and application of fair and consistent performance management
  , reward, and recognition processes across the organisation.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations
  , including disciplinary, grievance, and performance issues, ensuring compliance with legislation and company values.
• Work with functional heads to proactively plan recruitment needs and develop cost‑effective, high‑quality talent acquisition strategies.
• Collaborate across the People team to align initiatives, leverage synergies, and maximise impact on business results.
• Monitor and analyse key people metrics (e.g. retention, turnover, absence) to influence and inform business decisions.
• Support organisational design, change management, and employee engagement initiatives that strengthen culture and performance.
• Ensure consistent and fair application of pay, reward, and mobility practices across the organisation.
• Coordinate payroll processes with internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement in all areas of people and culture.

• Robust experience in a generalist HR leadership role supporting a diverse and fast‑paced business.
• Strong background in employee relations
  , including dismissals, grievances, and restructuring.
• Demonstrated success in leading change management and organisational transformation
  .
• Payroll management experience and familiarity with external providers.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands‑on operational execution.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Flexible, adaptable, and collaborative approach with a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.

A highly energised, credible, and resourceful HR leader with a passion for driving business performance through people. You’ll combine strategic insight with a pragmatic, hands‑on approach — confident influencing at all levels, leading by example, and shaping a culture of accountability, inclusion, and excellence.