HR Business Partner

Job description
The Vacancy

HR Business Partner

Location: Ideally London/South-based, with regular travel required to our offices in Finsbury Park, Redditch, and Manchester
Division: Wates Property Services – Facilities Management
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Ready to take the next step in your HR career?

Join Wates Group as an HR Business Partner and play a key role in shaping our people strategy. This is a great opportunity for a confident HR generalist looking to grow their impact in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment. Ideally, you’ll be based in the London or South region, with experience in facilities management, housing, or a field-based operational environment would be a distinct advantage.

About the Role

As an HR Business Partner within our Facilities Management Division, you’ll support national operations while working closely with our teams in Finsbury Park, Redditch, and Manchester – being on-site at least 3 days a week. This is a highly visible role with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and strategic business support, so regular travel and flexibility are essential.

You’ll partner directly with operational leaders to coach, guide, and embed best-practice people solutions that drive performance and support our business goals. You’ll also contribute to, or lead, broader people projects across Wates Property Services.

You’ll be backed by our central HR teams – including Shared Services and Centres of Excellence – giving you access to tools, expertise, and support as you grow.

What You’ll Be Doing
• Coaching & Support: Develop and support managers to lead, engage and motivate their teams effectively.
• Compliance & Governance: Promote consistency and high performance through sound HR practices aligned with legislation and internal policy.
• Talent & Development: Help identify and develop talent, succession planning and career pathways.
• Change Management: Guide and support change initiatives with people-focused, values-led delivery.
• Employee Relations: Advise on and manage ER issues effectively, supporting positive engagement across teams.
• Performance & Reward: Assist with annual salary reviews, performance cycles and reward-related activity.

What We’re Looking For
• A graduate or equivalent, ideally CIPD Level 5 qualified (minimum).
• Solid experience in a generalist HR role, preferably in a multi-site or operational business.
• A practical understanding of employment law and strong HR knowledge.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills – credible with senior managers.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance people and business priorities.
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset and a flexible, hands-on approach.

Experience in facilities management, housing, or a field-based operational environment would be a distinct advantage.

Why Wates?

At Wates, we’re proud of our inclusive, forward-thinking culture. You’ll join a supportive team where your voice is valued, and your career can thrive. This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your experience in a respected business with real scope for growth.

Apply now to shape your future with Wates Group.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:
• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.