Head of HR Business Partering

CMA HR Division is delighted to be partnering exculsively with a fast-growing, ambitious organisation to recruit a Head of HR Business Partnering for a newly enhanced leadership role based in Southampton.

This is not a traditional HR leadership position. We're looking for a commercially astute people leader who thrives in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments and sees HR as a genuine driver of business performance, growth and competitive advantage.

The organisation is entering an exciting phase of expansion, supported by ambitious growth plans including acquisition activity, organisational scaling and continued investment in its people agenda. As a key member of the senior HR leadership team, you will partner closely with operational and executive leaders to ensure the people strategy directly supports commercial objectives.

This opportunity will particularly appeal to candidates who have built their careers within high-growth businesses, private equity-backed organisations, challenger brands or commercially focused environments where pace, agility and business partnership are fundamental to success.

What will the Head of HR Business Partnering role involve?

• Leading and developing a high-performing HR Business Partnering function, driving strategic support across multiple business areas
• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior executives and business leaders, influencing key commercial and organisational decisions
• Supporting business growth initiatives, organisational design, workforce planning and leadership capability development
• Partnering with leaders through periods of change, transformation and acquisition activity
• Building leadership capability through coaching, development and succession planning initiatives
• Driving a performance-focused culture that balances commercial success with employee engagement and organisational values
• Utilising people data, commercial insight and workforce analytics to shape decision-making and improve business outcomes
• Championing a modern, commercially aligned HR function that is recognised as a key contributor to organisational performance

Suitable Candidate for the Head of HR Business Partnering vacancy:

• Significant HR Business Partnering leadership experience gained within commercially focused, fast-moving organisations
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate confidently at Executive and Board level
• Strong experience supporting organisational growth, change, transformation and ideally M&A activity
• Demonstrable track record of aligning people strategies to business outcomes and commercial performance
• Experience leading and developing high-performing HR teams
• Pragmatic, solutions-focused approach with the credibility to challenge, influence and drive change when required
• Strong employment law knowledge combined with exceptional commercial awareness
• CIPD qualified or equivalent experience.

Additional benefits and information:

• Competitive base salary of £100,000
• Annual bonus scheme
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Significant exposure to executive leadership and strategic business initiatives
• Opportunity to influence the future direction of a growing organisation during a highly exciting stage of its journey
• Excellent long-term career development prospects

This appointment will suit an ambitious HR leader who enjoys operating close to the business, influencing strategic decisions and helping organisations scale successfully. If you are currently working within a high-growth, entrepreneurial or private equity-backed environment and are looking for an opportunity where you can genuinely shape organisational success, we'd welcome a confidential conversation.

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