Job Description
Senior HR Business Partner
Salary: £50,000 per annum
Location: Avonmouth Port, Bristol (On-site)
Contract: Permanent, full time
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly autonomous, proactive, and seasoned Senior HR Business Partner to take full ownership of our HR operations at our Bristol site. Operating in a standalone capacity, you will be the sole on-site HR presence, serving as the trusted advisor to the entire unit—from frontline operational teams to the Business Unit Director.
While you will lead the site independently, you will be supported remotely by a centralised HR team (covering recruitment, admin, and specialist functions) based at our European headquarters in Portugal. This role is ideal for a hands-on HR professional who thrives on autonomy, possesses a continuous improvement mindset, and wants to shape HR processes from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR & Stakeholder Management
* Act as the primary HR point of contact and trusted advisor for all site employees and leadership, including the Business Unit Director.
* Align HR strategies with local business objectives, driving engagement, performance management, and employee relations.
* Provide coaching and guidance to line managers on UK employment law, policy interpretation, and best practices.
Autonomous Site Management
* Lead and manage all day-to-day HR processes autonomously on-site, ensuring compliance with UK legislation.
* Partner with the remote HQ functions in Portugal to seamlessly implement global HR initiatives at the Bristol site.
* Identify gaps in current processes and proactively design and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Payroll & Administration (Evolutionary Responsibility)
* Oversee the current outsourced payroll provider, ensuring accuracy and compliance for the Bristol workforce (currently <20 employees).
* Future Scope: Take full internal ownership of the end-to-end payroll process for the Bristol site as the function transitions in-house.
Experience & Qualifications
* Senior HR Experience: Proven track record operating at a Senior HR Advisor or HRBP level, ideally within a standalone role or a decentralised, multinational organisation.
* Industry Background: Experience working within industrial, logistics, manufacturing, or port-based environments is highly desirable.
* Payroll Knowledge: Practical experience with UK payroll processing is a significant advantage/big plus, given the future transition of the payroll function.
* Legal Expertise: Strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations.
* Education/Certification: CIPD qualification (Level 5 or 7) or equivalent experience is preferred.
Key Attributes for Success
* High Autonomy: Comfortable working as the sole HR representative on-site, managing reporting lines to a remote manager in Portugal.
* Proactive & Solution-Oriented: A self-starter who doesn't wait for direction, possesses strong initiative, and is driven by continuous improvement.
* Versatile Communication: Ability to build strong relationships and communicate effectively with a diverse workforce, from operational staff on the floor to executive directors.