Lead HR Business Partner

We’re building thriving communities as one of the UK’s largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing. We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes. If you want to experience work that’s truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive. Work for Orbit. Believe in people.

The role “Supporting the people who guide and enable our colleagues” sits at the heart of everything we do in HR at Orbit Group. We’re looking for a Lead HR Business Partner to provide a high-impact, strategic and commercially focused HR service to our construction business, Orbit Homes. You’ll partner with leaders and colleagues to deliver their business objectives, drawing on our centres of excellence to shape and implement people solutions that drive performance. You’ll also play a key role across the wider People Directorate, contributing to the design and delivery of forward-thinking people programmes and practices. This is a 12-18 month fixed-term opportunity. The role sits within our People & Strategy team, where you’ll help shape a culture and employer brand that people are proud to be part of.

What you'll achieve

• Provide HR leadership to Orbit Homes, advising on strategic people practices and programmes, drawing support from people centres of excellence.
• Assist in the development and implementation of overall HR strategies that reduce costs, increase value and achieve best practice.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the key business issues and strategic objectives and contribute by driving awareness of areas such as reward, performance management, change management, people development and employee culture.
• Facilitate and embed HR projects through the SMT and Heads of services teams. Ensuring that the development of resources (people, processes, knowledge and technology) is optimised.
• Provide HR advice, constructive challenge and act as a critical friend to ET/LT and SMTs.
• Attend as required SMT and operational management meetings to provide HR input and expertise as a true business partner.
• Contribute to on-going HR transformation and development of business and customer focussed mind-set through the HRBP team.
• Undertake regular reviews of technology, process, policy, procedure and working practice, making sound recommendations for improvement and implementing these.
• Act as lead HR practitioner in relation to strategic programmes such as mergers, acquisitions, TUPE transfers, vertical and horizontal alignments.
• Contribute to the completion and delivery of monthly and quarterly reports.
• Assist the Chief People Officer with the development of people management strategies to meet departmental and organisational priorities and objectives.
• Own performance management, and other associated practices for HR.
• Travel across Orbits geographies will required 3 to 4 days per month for collaboration with peers.

What you'll bring

Essential skills

• CIPD qualified and evidence of continuous professional development with capacity to become MCIPD qualified
• Substantial experience of operating within HR at a senior level as a business partner.
• IT skills - Excel, HR systems, PowerPoint, social media skills
• Analytical skills and the ability to diagnose and interpret data and trends
• Proven experience of delivering projects with defined outcomes from specialist areas.
• Ability to provide and implement HR solutions and clearly demonstrate the added value of HR
• Experience of driving performance through management teams.

Desirable skills

• Experience of managing HR through housebuilding or construction related organisations would be advantageous.

Why Orbit?

Choosing us means being rewarded in every sense. Here’s what you can expect to enjoy with us. A rewarding experience that works for you We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles. A place to progress From training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate or experienced professional we’ll support you to grow. For leaders, our tailored development journeys are designed to stretch and strengthen your leadership skills. As well as practical training, we give you access to renowned business schools and experiential programmes for greater breadth and depth of learning. A purpose to feel proud of We’re proud to make a difference to people together. We’re values-driven with a commercial focus on performance - because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people. What brings us together is a passionate belief in progress and people. Read more about the values and purpose that drive us on our careers website.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair: Online application Interviews (1st Stage 13, 19 and 20 May. 2nd Stage 4 June 2026) Decision and offer We put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check.