Interim Senior/HR Business Partner - Wakefield | Hybrid (2 days per week on site, must live within commutable distance of base) | 4-5 Month Interim Contract | Immediate Start

Hays HR are delighted to be supporting a well-established international organisation through a period of organisational transformation.

This is a highly visible senior HR role that will in the immediate term have a substantial focus on providing expert employee relations support during a period of change, before focussing on strategic people initiatives. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting leaders through organisational transformation, workforce change initiatives and complex people matters.

With a planned start in October 2026, this opportunity is ideal for an experienced HR professional who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, balancing strategic priorities with hands-on delivery in a unionised environment.

The Role

Reporting into the senior People leadership team (based at a different location), you will partner with directors and senior managers across the organisation to deliver practical, commercially focused HR solutions that support business objectives and transformation activity.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on all aspects of people management.
• Leading and managing complex employee relations cases, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, capability and organisational change matters.
• Supporting leaders through a programme of business transformation and cultural change.
• Providing expert guidance on restructures, consultations and workforce planning activity.
• Driving organisational development initiatives to improve effectiveness, engagement and performance.
• Coaching and developing managers to build confidence in handling people-related matters.
• Using workforce data and insights to identify trends, mitigate risks and support informed decision-making.
• Ensuring compliance with employment legislation, policy and best practice throughout all change activity.

About YouTo be considered, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience operating at Senior HR Business Partner or HR Business Partner level in a unionised environment
• Strong employee relations expertise, with the ability to manage and advise on complex and sensitive cases.
• Proven experience supporting organisations through transformation, restructuring or large-scale change programmes.
• Excellent knowledge of UK employment law and contemporary HR best practice.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience influencing senior leaders and executive teams.
• Experience coaching managers and developing leadership capability.
• A pragmatic and commercially focused approach with a strong emphasis on achieving positive outcomes.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery in a changing environment.

What's on Offer?

• 4-5 month interim assignment.
• Hybrid working model with approximately 2 days per week on site in Wakefield.
• Opportunity to play a key role in a significant transformation programme.
• Supportive and collaborative senior leadership team.
• Competitive day rate/salary depending on experience.
• Immediate impact opportunity within a complex and evolving organisation.

Apply Now If you are an experienced Senior HR Business Partner with strong employee relations expertise and a track record of supporting organisations through periods of change and transformation within a unionised environment, we would be keen to hear from you.

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