Human Resources Business Partner

Role: HR Business Partner
Duration: FTC up to 12 months
Shift: Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm & Friday 9am to 4.45pm (36 hours per week)
Location: Leicester Radar Road (LE3) with travel to Doncaster and other NEXT sites as required
Salary: Starting from £48,111 per annum + Benefits
Reports To : Senior HR Business Partner

The ideal candidate will be a quick learner, ready to hit the ground running and seamlessly integrate into an established, high-performing team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and executing HR strategies that align with the business objectives, enhance organisational performance, and support employee engagement in our Customer Service Teams across our contact centres in Leicester and Doncaster. At NEXT, we’re not only one of the UK’s largest fashion retailers—we’re also one of the largest listed companies. And we’re continuing to grow. It’s the kind of growth that brings fresh energy, new opportunities, and exciting challenges for everyone across our business. Our HR division plays a vital role in supporting Contact Centre employees across three key sites, helping deliver exceptional service to over 8.6 million active customers in the UK and around the world. As a trusted HR Business Partner within NEXT Online, you'll work closely with our senior management team to create and deliver HR solutions for our 1000 plus employees to drive success, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure an exceptional employee experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic HR Support: Collaborate with senior leaders and line managers to design and implement HR strategies that align with the company's goals, fostering a high-performance culture and driving business success.
• Employee Relations: Provide expert advice and support on employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and company policies while promoting a positive and productive workplace environment.
• Talent Management: Partner with managers to develop talent strategies, including succession planning, career development, and performance management. Help identify, retain, and develop top talent to support business objectives.
• Change Management: Support the business through change initiatives, providing guidance on organisational restructuring, cultural transformation, and other change processes to ensure smooth transitions and employee engagement.
• HR Strategy Execution: Drive the implementation of HR programs and initiatives that support organisational development, employee engagement, and the overall business strategy.
• Coaching & Development: Act as a coach to senior leaders and line managers, supporting them in managing their teams effectively, improving performance, and enhancing leadership capabilities.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use HR metrics and analytics to inform decision-making, track progress on HR initiatives, and recommend actions to improve performance and employee engagement.
• Training: Design and deliver HR Training

About You:

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Proven HR Experience: Significant experience in an HR Business Partner or similar strategic HR role, with a solid understanding of HR practices and business strategy alignment.
• CIPD Qualification: Ideally, you will have or be working towards a CIPD qualification (or equivalent), with a deep knowledge of HR legislation, best practices, and industry trends.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong business acumen and the ability to think strategically, balancing business needs with people priorities to deliver impactful HR solutions.
• Excellent Communication Skills: You must be an effective communicator, able to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Ability to address complex HR challenges with a solutions-oriented approach and make data-driven decisions.
• Leadership & Coaching: Experience in coaching, mentoring, and developing leaders, helping them drive performance and manage their teams effectively.
• Adaptability & Resilience: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment while managing multiple priorities and maintaining a calm and composed approach.
• A Full UK Driving Licence is required, as the role involves travel between Leicester and Doncaster and other NEXT sites as required.

What's Next?

All successful applicants will be subject to criminal & credit checks in line with our Reference Policy. In order to apply for this position you must not have had an unsuccessful application for a similar role in 6 months. In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This role is not one we would typically consider for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route due to, for example, the relevant Home Office requirements on skills level, not being met. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work option without Next sponsorship.