HR People Partner

Manpower are currently seeking an interim HR People Partner, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, to become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position is based at Blackfriars on London’s Victoria Embankment, just a short walk from Blackfriars tube. This is a full-time temporary role for 12 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £46,500 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

As a People Partner, you will be passionate about supporting our colleagues through their career journey, and our line managers with all aspects of operational people management and in particular, Employee Relations (‘ER’) case management.

You will be part of the People Experience team – this group of colleagues strives to create and deliver slick processes for every employee journey there is. Your interactions with employees in your business function will ensure they feel valued, heard and given the right resources and support they need during the most important moments during their careers (and in some instances, such as family leave, during their lives!).

You will also partner leaders in the management of their people and associated ER matters, ensuring compliance with all relevant employment legislation, and consistent application of all relevant HR policies and HR practices, with a passion for upholding Unilever’s people standards and business principles.

The People Partner will ensure Employees and Line Managers understand the partnership model that has been put in place whilst also championing relevant technology, particularly our purpose-built knowledge search engine and support tool, Una, as a first point of contact for any queries.

You will be able to directly make a positive impact on each key stage of an employee's lifecycle and be the key person to positively influence and shape the employee experience at times which are critical in their career. You will also be able to put your ER and employment legislation expertise to good use by assisting the business in appropriately upholding its high people standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. From an Employee Relations and UK employment law perspective, the People Partner plays a leading role in the management of ER casework activity and driving employee relations strategies.
2. Support line managers with all ER casework activity, ensuring compliance and correct interpretation of all relevant employment legislation, HR policies and HR practices, serving as the first point of contact for employees and line managers for such matters.
3. Ensure that HR policies, practices and programmes are consistently applied across UK client groups and the Company.
4. Provide operational support and guidance on matters relating to performance improvement, disciplinary, grievance, absence management, family leave, flexible working, collective and individual consultation, redundancy processes, etc. Your support can be very hands-on; writing scripts, collating investigation reports, writing outcome letters, to support cases through to completion.
5. Play a key role in upholding Unilever’s standards of behaviour, conduct, performance and the company’s code of business principles, and assisting with the resolution of conflict or disputes.
6. Contribute to creating a positive work environment by instilling confidence in our Managers and Employees that they are unbiased and neutral in facilitating resolutions to issues and concerns.
7. Take a proactive, strategic approach to ER by identifying ER trends, coaching Line Managers and recommending solutions that address the root cause of issues, and taking actions you feel are the right steps to take/ tackle problems before they grow.
8. Own the end-to-end employee cycle – partnering line managers and acting as a single point of contact for employees in your function area, through key career moments such as onboarding, role moves locally and globally, career growth, parental leave, time off, exit, etc. (working with our Hub in Cairo to deliver the transactions)
9. Provide coaching and support to line managers in employee experience. Empower our employees to be the best version of themselves. Our role is to help Employees, and our business, to thrive. Therefore, at Unilever we are committed to promoting a positive environment in our workplaces.
10. You will be a wellbeing ambassador, championing positive health and wellbeing, and promoting the resources available to support our people.
11. Support Local HR Strategic People Agenda: Work with HRBPs and Leaders to create and deliver project plans for managing any change programmes and reorganisations. As People Partner, specifically, you will play a key role leading any change programme end-to-end, ensuring meaningful consultation takes place, whilst providing guidance and support on process and policy.
12. Work side-by-side with teams across HR (HRBPs, Payroll, Reward, Global Mobility, Talent Acquisition etc), providing support and subject matter expertise to recommend appropriate actions to address queries or problems.

Key Requirements

1. You’ll have extensive experience of employee relations and case management.
2. You’ll have an advanced knowledge of UK employment laws and best practices in ER casework activity, and an ability to apply these to the nuances of internal HR policies.
3. You will have great attention to detail, a passion for delivering great customer experience and a continuous improvement mindset.
4. You can spot an opportunity to improve a process a mile off and you are not afraid to respectfully challenge the status quo and contribute to making improvements.
5. You will be experienced in handling sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy, you are comfortable having difficult conversations, working professionally and discreetly with sensitive information.
6. Both the what and the how are important to us – explaining requirements/processes is key, but first comes the critical step of gaining buy-in from your stakeholders. Therefore, you’ll have strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, building strong relationships with trust & confidence, as well as having the ability to influence.
7. You’ll be confident to work independently – making your own judgment, using discretion while utilising Unilever policies and practices.
8. A natural collaborator – you’ll work well as part of the team, there is no such thing as “not my job!” here – we have one shared purpose, to drive growth, whilst protecting Unilever from risk.

Additional Information

Blackfriars working environment:

• Iconic location on the Victoria embankment, modern working environment
• Short walk from Blackfriars station
• Staff shop discounted products
• Free tea & coffee facilities
• Onsite Deli and a restaurant open for breakfast and lunch
• Gym is available for use subscription required.