Senior People Business Partner

Svitzer

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Senior People Business Partner – UK – Remote or Hybrid 12 Months Fixed term Contract Svitzer is a leading global towage and marine services provider operating across 37 countries with over 4,000 employees. Founded in 1833, Svitzer builds on almost 200 years of experience, and our powerful tugboats and experts in towage work tirelessly to keep goods flowing, businesses thriving, and communities connected. In the UK, our people work in a demanding, safety-critical, operational environment. Supporting them well is not optional — it’s business critical. We’re looking for an operational, hands-on Senior People Business Partner for 12 months maternity cover. Start 1st July 2026 until 30th June 2027. You’ll be operating at senior stakeholder level, influencing decisions, leading a capable HR team, and navigating a complex, unionised environment where credibility and judgement matter. Location: Remote or hybrid from one of our UK port locations (Middlesbrough, Southampton, Bristol, Gravesend, Felixstowe, Liverpool, Milford Haven or Immingham), with travel across our UK operations. Package includes up to 10% contributory pension Private health & dental plan 10% bonus The Role You’ll partner directly with senior leadership to execute people strategy aligned to business priorities. At the same time, you’ll stay close to the operational detail—particularly across employee relations, industrial relations, and organisational change. You’ll lead a HR team (x2 HRBPs, Advisor, Wellbeing Specialist) and act as the go-to advisor on all people matters, ensuring the business remains compliant, commercially focused, and people-led.

Requirements

• Strong, hands-on ER and UK employment law experience
• Proven ability to influence decisions at senior level
• Experience operating in complex, unionised or regulated environments
• Commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge
• Proven experience operating as a Senior HRBP in an operational environment
• Strong track record influencing senior stakeholders and shaping decisions
• Deep, hands-on experience in employee relations and UK employment law
• Experience in unionised and/or regulated environments
• Practical experience of tribunals, redundancies, and consultation processes
• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent experience)

Nice To Haves

• Confident operator—you challenge constructively and hold your ground
• Pragmatic—you focus on outcomes, not theory
• Resilient—you stay effective under pressure
• Sound judgement—you make the right call, even when it’s not the easy one

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to shape and deliver people strategy
• Lead on industrial and employee relations, including union engagement
• Drive organisational change, restructures, and transformation
• Lead and develop a small, capable HR team
• Own risk, compliance, and governance across people matters

Benefits

• up to 10% contributory pension
• Private health & dental plan
• 10% bonus

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed