HR Business Partner (Maternity Cover)

Join an award-winning organisation where people matter

At Shaw Trust, we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and the opportunity for rewarding work. As a social purpose organisation, we challenge inequality, break down barriers and enable social mobility through services that create lasting positive change.

Our organisation is recognised not only for the impact we make, but also for the culture we create. Shaw Trust has been named one of the Top 50 Global Inspiring Workplaces, receiving additional recognition in the Large Employer, Wellbeing and Employee Voice categories. These awards reflect our commitment to creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, included and empowered to do their best work.

"Shaw Trust promotes team spirit and inclusiveness. It's an organisation where everybody is somebody. I am proud to be part of this great organisation."

By joining Shaw Trust, you'll help shape the experience of colleagues delivering services that support people into work, independence and opportunity across the UK.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Interim HR Business Partner (12-month maternity cover) to provide proactive, commercially focused HR support across a designated business area. Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, you'll join a collaborative and supportive People team, partnering with leaders to drive organisational performance and colleague engagement.

You'll act as a trusted adviser, providing expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, employment law, organisational change, talent management and workforce planning.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making while supporting managers to build high-performing, engaged and inclusive teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders, Heads of Operations and managers to understand business priorities and identify people-focused solutions.
• Provide expert advice and coaching on employee relations, performance management, organisational change and employment legislation.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning and talent management initiatives to ensure sustainable organisational capability.
• Coach and develop managers to strengthen accountability and capability in managing people effectively.
• Lead on complex employee relations cases, consultations and engagement activities, including working with Trade Unions and employee representative groups where required.
• Use people data and insights to identify trends, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
• Support the development and implementation of HR policies, projects and initiatives that align with organisational objectives.
• Ensure HR policies and procedures are applied consistently, fairly and in line with legal and organisational requirements.
• Support organisational change programmes, ensuring change is implemented effectively, fairly and with a positive colleague experience.
  
  
  

About You

You'll be an experienced HR professional with strong business partnering skills and the confidence to influence and challenge at a senior level.

Essential Requirements

• CIPD qualified (Level 7 or equivalent experience) with extensive, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law.
• Proven experience operating as an HR Business Partner within a complex, multi-site or diverse organisation.
• Significant experience managing complex employee relations cases, consultations and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Experience working with Trade Unions, employee forums or representative groups.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance organisational objectives, risk and colleague experience.
• Demonstrable experience influencing senior leaders and supporting organisational change.
• Experience of talent management, succession planning, employee engagement, performance management and workforce planning.
• Well-developed analytical skills, with the ability to interpret people data, identify trends and provide insights that support informed decision-making and performance improvement.
• Excellent communication, coaching and presentation skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly effective organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
  
  
  

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced HR Business Partner looking to apply their expertise in a values-led organisation where people are genuinely at the heart of everything we do.

Location:

This is a home-based role supporting contracts across the Midlands and North of England. Regular travel is an essential part of the role, giving you the opportunity to build strong relationships with operational leaders and teams, provide visible HR support and deliver practical coaching, guidance and training across the region.

What We Offer

In addition to a rewarding career with a leading social purpose organisation, you'll benefit from:

• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 28 days with service, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Two paid volunteering days each year to support causes that matter to you.
• An enhanced pension scheme after six months' service.
• Life assurance at three times your annual salary.
• Access to a broad range of learning and development opportunities, including funded apprenticeships, master's level qualifications and leadership development programmes.
• Opportunities to connect through our colleague networks, including LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disability Equality Network, Women's Network, Neurodiversity Peer Support Network and Young Professionals Network.
• A range of health and wellbeing benefits, including an Employee Assistance Programme, health cash plan and wellbeing initiatives.
• A flexible and collaborative working environment where everybody is somebody and every contribution matters.
  
  
  

This role offers a unique opportunity to apply your HR expertise within an award-winning organisation that combines commercial focus, social impact and a genuine commitment to its people.

Join a Diverse and Inclusive Organisation

At Shaw Trust, we believe that diversity of thought, background and experience makes us stronger. We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves. We want every colleague to feel they belong, have a voice, and can develop a rewarding career with us, regardless of their background, identity or lived experience.

We're proud of the progress we've made and recognise that building an inclusive culture is an ongoing journey. That's why we continue to invest in initiatives that support equality, wellbeing and opportunity for all.

Our Commitments Include

• Being certified to the National Equality Standard, the UK's leading accreditation for workplace equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Holding Disability Confident Leader status, actively supporting the Guaranteed Interview Scheme and promoting the use of the Government's Access to Work programme.
• Maintaining our Menopause Friendly Accreditation, supported by regular Menopause Peer Support Groups that provide a safe and supportive space for colleagues to share experiences and access guidance.
• Supporting a wide range of colleague networks that help foster connection, inclusion and allyship across the organisation.
• Continuously striving to ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve at every level of the organisation.
  
  
  

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly from candidates with lived experience of disability, disadvantage, social exclusion or the barriers faced by the people we support.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, or would like to discuss accessibility requirements, please contact Resourcing@shaw-trust.org.uk.

Please note: Shaw Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.