Norman Broadbent PLC, a leader in executive search, interim management and leadership consulting, is delighted to be partnering with Yeo Valley Production Ltd, a family-owned dairy business, to appoint a Head of People Partnering.
Yeo Valley
Yeo Valley is a British dairy company that was founded in 1974, headquartered in Somerset, and with 6 operational sites across the South West. They’re a fantastic, visionary and purposeful food and farming business, powered by people - they’re on a mission to ensure their co-owners feel inspired, valued and connected to their purpose.
The business is entering an exciting new phase: emerging from significant capital investment, strengthening profitability, and sharpening its focus on leadership capability, workforce planning and people experience. This role will be central to that journey.
Head of People Partnering
Reporting to the newly appointed People & Culture Director, the Head of People Partnering is a pivotal senior leadership role within the People function.
Leading a team of People Business Partners and ER Specialists, you will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, balancing commercial outcomes with fairness, compliance and cultural integrity. You will play a key role in bringing the Passionate People strategy to life and ensuring co-ownership is experienced meaningfully across all sites.
This is a role that combines strategic influence with operational grit, shaping long-term workforce plans while ensuring excellence in day-to-day people delivery.
Key responsibilities of the Head of People Partnering:
* Strategic Business Partnering – Act as a credible and trusted advisor to senior leaders, coaching and constructively challenging to optimise performance and leadership impact.
* Leading Change – Inspire and develop a high-performing People Partner and ER team, driving measurable business outcomes and embedding a culture of accountability and growth.
* Workforce Planning & Talent Alignment – Partner with the business to align capability, capacity and skills to future growth plans, using insight and data to anticipate risk and inform decisions.
* Employee Relations & Governance – Provide oversight of ER strategy and complex case management, ensuring robust governance, ethical compliance and alignment to employment legislation.
* Operational Excellence – Own and continuously improve core people processes, ensuring clarity, efficiency and strong partnership with People Services.
* Digital Transformation – Lead the people technology roadmap in partnership with IT and PMO, strengthening data quality, manager self-service and actionable insight.
* Co-Owner Voice & Engagement – Strengthen local forums and influence frameworks, ensuring co-owner voice translates into clear action and measurable impact.
* Safety & Wellbeing – Champion health, safety and wellbeing in partnership with HSE and occupational health, ensuring physical and mental wellbeing remain central to culture.
Essential experience of Head of People Partnering:
* Substantial experience in a senior HR leadership role with a broad remit across ER, organisational design and workforce planning
* Strong employee relations expertise and employment law knowledge
* Experience partnering with senior, multi-disciplined stakeholders
* Track record in manufacturing, FMCG, retail or similar multi-site operational environments
* A progressive and forward-thinking approach to People leadership
* A strong people leader who builds capability and high-performing teams
* Passion about culture, engagement and strengthening employee voice
* (Desirable) CIPD Level 7
* (Desirable) Experience supporting or embedding co-ownership cultures
Head of People Partnering