People and Culture Business Partner

**Seekers & First-Rate Maintenance**

**Background**

Seekers and First-Rate Maintenance are sister companies delivering their respective services across the North East. Seekers (formerly Walton Robinson) provide lettings and property management services on behalf of landlords to student and professional tenants. Seekers also provide a buy-to-let property sourcing service and consultancy services to investors and developers.

First-Rate Maintenance was formed in 2020 to overcome a lot of the frustrations that Seekers were encountering as a managing agent of residential property. The business is now well established and in a period of sustained and rapid growth. We have recently moved to bigger and more suitable premises that can accommodate our ambitions.

There are 59 full time positions across both businesses, and a part time team that ranges between 10 and 20 people depending on the time of year.

The People and Culture Business Partner will have responsibilities for the combined workforce and will need to spend at least one day per week in each of Seekers’ city centre office and First-Rate Maintenance’s premises in North Shields. There will also be the ability to work from home as appropriate and required. Being a dynamic and flexible individual for this hybrid working arrangement will be vitally important.

Whilst there are a lot of synergies between the two organisations, there are significant differences in the way they operate. To be successful in this role you will need to be an adept communicator with a diverse range of stakeholders across all levels of an organisation.

From the very outset we will be looking for you to lead the digital transformation of our HR processes and procedures to bring them in line with the digital-forward approach of the rest of the business, where such transformation has already taken place. At every stage of this transformation (and everything else you do) we want you to prioritise the organisation’s new Corporate Values initiative.

**Responsibilities**:

- Be a trusted and strategic partner to leaders, proactively partnering with them on all people matters.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders to ensure HR supports the organisation’s objectives around engagement, wellbeing, reward, and retention.
- Provide advice and guidance on HR support, best practice, and employment legislation.
- Developing and implementing people strategies, policies, and procedures.
- Align teams with the organisation’s values, mission, and vision.
- Communicate the organisation’s culture goals through internal communications, staff meetings, and one-on-ones.
- Develop and implement effective HR reporting and analysis to inform leaders.
- Monitoring and reporting on staff attendance; conducting return to work interviews.
- Coach and support managers ensuring good practice across the whole employment lifecycle.
- Lead on employee engagement and employee relation matters including performance management, redundancies, disciplinaries and grievances.
- Develop a formal performance management framework and support managers in delivering it.
- Develop and lead on a comprehensive onboarding program that reinforces our culture and values.

**Requirements**:
You have a degree or equivalent qualification(s) or extensive workplace experience commensurate with this management level role.

You have proven experience of leading, managing, and motivating teams and improving performance to deliver results.

You must be prepared to challenge teams and individuals to better uphold the organisation’s values and make cultural improvements.

You will be an exceptional communicator with the ability to relay information simply, concisely, and accurately in both written and verbal formats.

Starting Salary: Management level role with starting salary between £30,000 and £38,000 depending on experience

Hours: Permanent 37.5 hours per week.

**Salary**: £30,000.00-£38,000.00 per year

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

- Bonus scheme

**Experience**:

- Human resources: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newcastle Upon Tyne