People Partner (12-month FTC)
Location: Marden, Kent
Reports to: People Director
Overview
A UK-based organisation is seeking a proactive and hands-on People Partner to support its operational site and ensure a consistent, positive employee experience. This onsite role works closely with senior operational leaders, line managers, and the wider People Team to deliver effective day-to-day people support.
The position covers a broad generalist remit, including employee relations, workforce coordination, payroll administration, and supporting people processes across the employee lifecycle. You’ll be a visible presence on the shop floor, building trusted relationships and supporting managers to confidently lead their teams.
Key Responsibilities
1. People Partnering
* Provide practical guidance to managers on a wide range of people matters, including ER, performance, absence, and day-to-day HR queries.
* Build strong relationships through regular onsite engagement with operational teams.
* Support senior operational leadership with workforce planning and headcount accuracy.
* Collaborate closely with the wider People Team to contribute to business-wide initiatives.
2. Employee Experience
* Support the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, probation, check-ins, and offboarding.
* Promote an inclusive and positive working culture, encouraging open communication and recognition.
* Gather feedback across the site and escalate themes or concerns to drive continuous improvement.
3. Employee Relations
* Manage ER cases such as investigations, disciplinaries, performance issues, and grievances.
* Ensure processes align with UK employment law and internal policy, seeking senior or legal guidance where needed.
* Coach managers to handle people matters confidently and effectively.
4. Learning & Development
* Partner with the L&D function to share insights on training needs across the site.
* Support managers in identifying skills gaps and development opportunities.
* Deliver occasional training or briefing sessions and maintain accurate training records.
* Assist with identifying opportunities to utilise the apprenticeship levy.
5. Payroll & Workforce Administration
* Lead the end-to-end payroll process for the site, ensuring all changes and updates are captured accurately.
* Resolve payroll and benefits queries where appropriate.
* Maintain accurate and compliant employee data in line with GDPR.
6. Agency & Headcount Management
* Act as the primary contact for agency partners, supporting onboarding, compliance, and performance monitoring.
* Track agency usage and associated costs, escalating issues where needed.
* Provide accurate headcount reporting and support workforce planning.
7. Operational Support & Team Collaboration
* Contribute to people-related projects and ongoing improvements, including engagement initiatives and process enhancements.
* Work collaboratively with the wider People Team to ensure alignment and consistency across functions.
* Maintain compliance with people processes, policies, and data standards.
* Support communication activity to ensure clear and consistent messaging.
* Provide cover for key elements of the Senior People Partner’s role during periods of absence.
Skills & Experience
Essential
* Experience in a People Partner, HR Advisor, or similar HR generalist role within an operational environment (e.g., warehouse, logistics, manufacturing).
* Strong understanding of UK employment law and experience managing ER cases.
* Confidence in supporting or running payroll processes.
* Experience working with variable headcount and agency labour.
* Excellent relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to manage a varied workload in a fast-paced setting.
* Comfortable being highly visible and hands-on within an operational team.
* Good understanding of GDPR and data accuracy standards.
Desirable
* Experience using HRIS systems such as HiBob or Team Tailor.
* Coaching or mediation experience.
* Experience within a values-led or purpose-driven organisation.
* Exposure to benefits or compensation administration.
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months