HR Business Partner

We are now looking for an HR Business Partner to join us on a permanent, full-time basis, working 35 hours per week in a hybrid model.

The Benefits

- Salary of £54,438 - £67,692
- 25 days' annual leave per year, plus bank holidays and additional leave over Christmas
- 7.5% employer pension contributions
- Flexible hybrid working options
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Employee protection scheme (life, critical illness, income protection)

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and CIPD-qualified, strategic-level HR practitioner with strong generalist and change management expertise to support our exceptional organisation at a vital point in our evolution.

You will have the chance to make a real and positive impact whilst further developing your expertise in the DEI field, ensuring your portfolio is supported in this vital area by practical experience.

What's more, you will discover an organisation that is built on the pillars of standing up, speaking out, innovating, and collaborating, making it the perfect environment to build on DEI initiatives and drive positive change.

Your Role

As an HR Business Partner, you will shape and deliver an HR strategy that supports our manifesto and operational priorities, with a particular focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

Specifically, you will deliver guidance and advice across the HR spectrum and employee lifecycle, getting involved in everything from employee relations to recruitment, as well as supporting organisational change. You will identify key people issues, contribute to policy development and coach managers to navigate complex situations with confidence and empathy.

Spending a significant proportion of your time focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, you will utilise your specialist expertise to deliver meaningful impact to our organisation. You will work with staff forums and governance groups to embed sustainable change, and develop, drive and measure progress against our DEI agenda.

Additionally, you will:

- Partner with leaders to deliver consistent, strategic and operational advice
- Advise on complex employee relations matters, including grievances, complaints, casework and high-risk cases
- Support the Director of People and other leaders on change initiatives
- Evaluate and develop performance management processes and tools
- Provide support to managers and employees to identify L&D support
- Use HR and DEI data to inform evidence-based interventions

About You

To be considered as an HR Business Partner, you will need:

- Proven experience in a complex HR generalist role, across the whole HR lifecycle
- CIPD level 7 (completed or working towards) or equivalent experience, with experience of working within a complex, changing matrix-managed organisation
- Significant experience supporting and managing change initiatives in a dynamic organisational context
- Proactive and collaborative, with a solutions-focused approach and demonstrated problem-solving skills
- Working knowledge of UK employment law
- Proven experience in a DEI-focused role, or leading DEI initiatives as part of a broader role
- Proven track record in coaching and developing managers to resolve issues and lead with empathy
- Adaptive and open-minded, with a willingness to learn and evolve
- Proven ability to collect and analyse HR and DEI data and use it to shape effective HR interventions
- Excellent organisational skills for self and others under own oversight
- Demonstrable commitment to IIED’s mission and core values, particularly around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and sustainability
- Fluency in English and very good verbal and written communication skills

A DBS check will be required for this role.

The closing date for this role is 8th March 2026.

IIED is a hybrid working organisation, and you are likely to be working from home most of the time. As such, you will need a suitable place to work and a reliable, fast internet connection.

IIED is a Global organisation that serves the Global Majority. We are committed to equity of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in IIED’s workforce, including members of minority groups and those with lived experience of the work we do. Even if you don't satisfy all the criteria, we still encourage you to apply, as we will offer training and development to upskill the right candidate for the role.