If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.
AWE is currently recruiting a Senior HR Business Partner with a breadth of HR experience across all activities, including organisational design, strategic people plans and ensuring a positive and proactive relationship with trade union partners.
Please note, this is a 12-month fixed term contract, ideally starting no later than August 2025.
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. The plan is to relocate to Green Park at the end of 2025.
Package: £61,040- £96,480 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.
Let us introduce the role
As the Senior HR Business Partner, you will support one or more Executive Directors and their SLT on all people and organisational matters, collaborating with the HR Function to drive forward the people aspects of the business plan.
At AWE you will be able to makes a real difference, with the opportunity to work with experts in their field, as part of a welcoming HRBP team and ultimately support keeping the nation safe.
Some of the Key Responsibilities:
With guidance from the Head of HR, support the development and implementation of People Strategy and Plans for a functional area of the business.
Identify internal and external trends and commission strategic analysis and recommendations from the wider HR team, including external benchmarking to facilitate key people recommendations and decisions that deliver the people aspects of the business plan.
Identify, sponsor and direct HR project delivery, managing change for specific projects and initiatives.
Provide direction, support and coaching to Executive and Business leaders to deliver the people strategy & plan.
Manage succession planning to ensure resilience for all key/senior roles, ensuring linkage across all functional areas.
Ensure a high performance culture is developed in conjunction with an accurate, robust and credible talent plan.
Oversee, where necessary, complex ER cases in partnership with the Employee Relations (ER) and the Legal team.
Act as an interface between the AWE business and HR function to ensure alignment and delivery of strategic initiatives to meet business demands.
Ensure a positive and proactive relationship with trade union partners.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking a Senior HRBP with a broad range of HR experience, with demonstrable org design experience, stakeholder management up to executive level, and previous experience creating strategic people plans in a Unionised environment.
Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:
Good general standard of education, CIPD or relevant HR qualification (desirable).
A collaborative team mate willing to support the wider team.
The ability to build rapport and influence key stakeholders, up to and including Executive level.
Ability to develop a solid understanding of organisational requirements and to develop strategies and solutions to drive business performance.
Ability to use information in a structured way, applying sound judgement to identify and make robust commercial decisions.
Experience of working within a complex matrix organisation (Engineering, Industrial, Manufacturing, Science organisations are of particular interest).
Experience of supporting and embedding change whilst balancing the need to deliver short- and long-term sustainable benefits.
Experience of working within an HR model utilising Centres of Expertise.
Excellent understanding of employment law to manage change and ER agendas creatively.
Experience of working with Trade Unions and building effective relationships with TU reps.
Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:
AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:
9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.
Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 3 days onsite per week.
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Next steps:
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.
Important things you need to know:
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.