Associate HR Business Partner

About the role

As our Associate HR Business Partner, you'll be the vital connection point between our management teams and the HR function. Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, you'll work within a collaborative, forward thinking People Team that supports the entire organisation through change, growth, and continuous improvement. You'll partner closely with managers across one of our business areas - Waste, Water or Group Functions providing guidance, coaching and strategic insight to help drive high-performing, people centric outcomes. This is a role where you'll gain broad exposure, influence directly at senior levels, and contribute to shaping a positive and progressive workplace culture. What you will be responsible for: A summary of the role You'll build trusted relationships with leaders, partner on organisational change, and take ownership of one of our strategic Employee Relations pillars, ensuring consistent and commercial people decisions aligned with business strategy.

Responsibilities

• Partner with managers below SLT level to provide guidance on people matters, organisational priorities, and People deliverables.
• Build strong, authentic relationships across your business area, acting as the first point of contact for HR support and escalation.
• Support complex employee relations cases and collaborate with Centres of Excellence (Reward, Talent & Development, Recruitment).
• Deliver organisational design and restructuring projects, ensuring clear communication and effective stakeholder management.
• Drive People Plan priorities, helping shape focus areas in line with business strategy.
• Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of a strategic ER pillar (Employee Voice, Trade Union relationships or Employment Tribunals).
• What you'll bring to the role
• Essential
• Experience working in a dynamic HR Business Partnering role within a fast-paced, complex organisation.
• Strong employment law knowledge and current understanding of HR best practice.
• Proven experience delivering organisational change projects (including restructures and TUPE).
• Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent experience) and degree-level education (or equivalent experience).
• Desirable
• Experience partnering with Trade Unions or representative groups.
• Exposure to managing Internal Employee Representative Group processes or similar engagement frameworks.
• You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation
• At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we'd love to hear from you even if you don't tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.
• Our Commitment to Diversity
• Additional information:
• In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.
• Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks, including security vetting.

Additional Information

Job Title: Associate HR Business Partner Location: Durrington / Hybrid Contract Type: Permanent Hours: 37 hours per week Salary: from £45k per annum

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