We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic HR Business Partner to play a pivotal role in shaping our future as we continue to grow. This position reports directly to the HR Director and is essential for driving an inclusive and high-performing culture within our organisation. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished HR generalist with a strategic mindset and hands-on operational expertise. The HR Business Partner will play a pivotal role in establishing and embedding the people function for our Bristol site. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, they will lead all HR activities, including recruitment, consolidation, onboarding, and the development of training and capability frameworks. This role will be integral throughout the pre-opening phase and into full operational launch, ensuring the site is effectively staffed, fully compliant, and culturally aligned with the broader organisation. Responsibilities Deliver the People Function: Take ownership of the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and positive experience from skills mapping, retention, onboarding to offboarding Workforce Planning & Talent Acquisition – Lead recruitment campaigns to build the site’s workforce through both internal talent and new external hires, working closely with talent acquisition teams and external partners. Demonstrate an innovative and collaborative approach to retaining, attracting, selecting, and onboarding high-calibre talent. Strategic Partnering: Collaborate closely with leadership and managers across the organisation to understand business needs and translate them into effective people initiatives that drive performance and engagement. Support the development of university partnerships that help create a pipeline for our future skills requirements. Consultation, change & capability development: Deliver effective change management through structured consultation with employees and stakeholders, supporting workforce transition and redesigning roles to build capability for new and emerging technologies. Employee Relations Expertise: Provide expert guidance and hands-on management for all employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant processes. Coach managers on best practices in performance management, conflict resolution, etc. Operational Excellence: Oversee and continuously improve all core People Operations processes, including but not limited to: Onboarding and integration programs that ensure new hires are set up for success. Performance frameworks focused on continuous feedback and development. Compensation & benefits administration, ensuring market competitiveness and fairness. D365 /HRIS management and data integrity. Compliance with all relevant employment laws and regulations. Culture & Engagement: Champion and evolve our company culture, developing initiatives that enhance employee engagement, wellbeing, and DEI. Learning & Development: Identify development needs and implement impactful learning initiatives that support employee growth and career progression. People Analytics: Leverage data to inform decision-making, identify trends, etc. Qualifications Strong Generalist Background: Over 10 years of extensive experience across all aspects of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment support and onboarding to performance management, compensation, benefits, and offboarding. Ideally, experience with start-ups, site launches, or large-scale change environments. Proven Employee Relations (ER) Expertise: Demonstrated experience managing complex ER cases, providing sound advice, and implementing effective resolutions. A strong understanding of UK employment law is essential. Strategic Partnering Acumen: Ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders and managers, acting as a trusted advisor who can align people strategies with business objectives. Communication & Influence: Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely. Problem-Solving: A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to changing priorities. Empathy & Integrity: A high degree of empathy, emotional intelligence, and unwavering integrity in handling sensitive employee matters.