Senior People Business Partner

We recognise the value in having people with a variety of backgrounds, experience and skills in our business. That means the role requirements here should be seen as a guide, not a checklist. If you have more, less or different experiences, but really relevant skills, we'd love to hear from you.

We work flexibly and will help you to find a healthy balance of remote working and time in our fantastic Southampton office, collaborating, taking part in events and getting to know people that makes working with us so rewarding. We welcome the opportunity to discuss reduced hours and job share arrangements.

The Role

As a Senior Business Partner, you will be responsible for providing strategic guidance and partnership to key stakeholders across the organisation. You will work closely with leadership to develop and implement business strategies, drive performance improvements, and ensure alignment with organisational goals. This role requires a proactive approach, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence and inspire others.

• Strategic Planning

Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute business strategies that align with company objectives. Provide insights and recommendations to drive long-term growth and profitability.

• Performance Management: Lead performance management processes, including setting objectives, monitoring progress, and implementing improvement plans. Ensure that all departments are aligned with strategic goals and are operating efficiently.
• Financial Analysis: Conduct comprehensive financial analysis to support decision-making processes. Develop financial models, forecasts, and budgets to inform strategic initiatives and drive business performance.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization. Act as a trusted advisor, providing guidance and support to ensure successful project implementation and organizational alignment.
• Change Management: Drive change management initiatives to support organizational transformation and continuous improvement. Lead efforts to enhance processes, systems, and culture to achieve strategic goals.
• Leadership Development: Mentor and coach emerging leaders within the organization. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. Ensure that all business activities comply with relevant regulations and standards.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize data analytics to inform business decisions. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide actionable insights to drive continuous improvement.

Our role categories range from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President) so you can clearly see internal development opportunities. This role is a CUK06 and is offered on a 10mth Fixed Contract starting in Jan 2026 on a full time basis, with hybrid working in our Southampton office, a minimum of 3 days per week.

About You

Fresh ideas and different perspectives are what excite us most and help us to succeed. Alongside bringing these to the role, you'll also need:

• Proven experience within an HR generalist role in a large, international organisation.
• Experience of influencing, supporting and guiding Senior leaders on a wide breadth of people-related areas.
• Experience of delivering HR projects and change management.
• Proven experience of practical application of HR theory.
• An up to date understanding of present and future employment legislation.

Being part of our team has its advantages…

We're a holiday company so we know there's more to life than work. Our comprehensive range of benefits are designed to help your personal and financial health and wellbeing.

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Annual bonus
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Home and office-based hybrid working, working with 3 days per week in the office
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Please note: Being able to create unforgettable holiday happiness is a brilliant opportunity so we often receive high volumes of applications for our roles. In these cases we may close our job adverts early and aren't able to consider applications once this happens.

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Holidays are one of life's greatest pleasures. Having the chance to relax, escape and explore is a magical thing. And there is no better holiday than a cruise.

No one knows cruising like Carnival UK, where talented people from across the globe come together to create unforgettable holiday happiness. As part of the world's largest holiday travel and leisure company, we take enormous pride in bringing to life two of the most iconic brands from Britain's rich seafaring heritage, P&O Cruises and Cunard. Collectively they have been delivering unbridled joy, boundless adventure and lifelong memories to millions of people for over 350 years. And in a multi-million pound global holiday market, where cruising has barely scratched the surface, we have the opportunity to do that for many, many more people.

Our diverse yet tight knit teams share high standards, heartfelt values and passion for our purpose. Our Culture Essentials describe the expectations we have for ourselves and of each other, in building a culture that supports safe, sustainable, compliant operations and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.

It's through the successful delivery of these extraordinary travel experiences for our target markets and our distinctive culture, that we hope to become Travel's Employer of Choice.