Senior HR Business Partner

If you'd like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

AWE is recruiting a Senior HR Business Partner (Senior People & Culture Partner) to play a crucial role in driving a high performance culture, leading organisational change, and enabling impactful leadership and talent management.

To be successful in this role requires evidence of excellent stakeholder engagement at all levels of the business, the ability to build credible and trusted relationships quickly, strong organisational change knowledge, commercial thinking and the ability to work in a highly collaborative way.

Please note, we are considering applications for both permanent roles and a 12 month fixed term contract. Please indicate at the time of applying if you would like to be considered for permanent employment or fixed term.

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Plans to relocate role to Green Park, Reading, from December 2025.

Package: From £61,040 - £85,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. This role requires close working with the business stakeholders it is aligned to, whilst there is flexibility around working arrangements including hybrid working, this is agreed on an informal, non-contractual basis (typically 3 days onsite per week.) and must meet the needs of your stakeholders.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it's not just a job, it's far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

As a Senior HR Business Partner, this highly visible role is aligned to Function Executive Directors and Business Unit General Managers and/or Delivery Directors who form the Senior Leadership across the enterprise. Building trusted and credible partnerships, Partners will drive and deliver impactful people strategies aligned with business milestones and objectives, our Cultural Deal, and will ensure the effectiveness of People Experience, Change, Talent, Leadership, Performance and Strategic Workforce planning.

As a key strategic role within the People Function, this is also a highly collaborative role, influencing engagement from the business with the People Service Operating Model and championing the customer voice to influence People Strategies and service improvements.

As part of your role, you will:

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders to align people plans with business strategy.

• Develop and deliver integrated people roadmaps.

• Ensure organisational design and health support strategic goals through effective change initiatives.

• Champion business needs within the People function to shape strategy and service delivery.

• Drive engagement with People programmes, operating models, and cultural initiatives.

• Lead end-to-end talent strategy, including succession planning, capability building, and skills analysis.

• Maximise talent brokerage and succession tools to build workforce resilience.

• Own performance frameworks and embed a performance-driven culture.

• Ensure customer voice informs People Function priorities and delivery.

Who are we looking for?

We're seeking someone with Business Partnering expertise, with proven experience leading organisational change and working with senior leaders in an engaging, credible and influential way to achieve the best business outcome.

You'll bring expertise in coaching senior leaders to enhance performance, leading people change initiatives with a clear understanding of associated risks, and developing actionable people plans to address strategic workforce challenges. Strong understanding of reward and talent/succession planning methodologies is advantageous.

We do need you to have the following:

We are looking for someone who is CIPD qualified, ideally to Level 7, or equivalent in experience and knowledge covering the full spectrum of the HR field.

The ability to obtain security clearance.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Strong technical knowledge in restructure, redundancy and TUPE.

• Experience driving effective talent management and succession activity.

• Experience working with Trade Unions.

• Able to present with confidence when information is ambiguous.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Highly resilient and able to adapt to changing stakeholder needs.

You'll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment, be able to manage your own workload using initiative, and have an enthusiasm and flexible approach when delivering HR expertise to our business.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

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Next steps:

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don't always 'tick every box'. That's why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don't meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we'd love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. 
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.