People Business Partner

People Business Partner 

Based: High Wycombe 
Term: Permanent, Full time
Salary: Dependant on experience + excellent benefits

The Role:

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, and working within a shared-services HR model, this role involves partnering with the Managing Director and senior leadership team, of the Focusrite & Novation brands, to develop and implement predominately medium to long-term HR solutions aligned to Group strategy.

Balancing the requirements of our central HR function, including shared policies, procedures and processes, with the specific needs of Focusrite Novation, you will be a trusted partner to the senior leadership team, and the subject specialist around people, talent, culture, company values, compliance, and HR initiatives and solutions. You will be required to partner with managers across the business, as needed, to help further embed and develop existing processes and deliver conventional best-practice HR support. At times, you may be required to liaise with a variety of stakeholders to explore how best to implement changes and assess the impact.

We have 160 staff based in 3 locations across Focusrite Novation, predominately in the UK, but also in Germany and the US. 

You will also work towards the Groups’ strategic HR plans; in particular, ensuring we meet our Group objective of being a “great place to work”.

Based in High Wycombe and offer Hybrid working, at least 3 days per week onsite.  

Essential Functions and Major Responsibilities:

Talent acquisition

Ensure the right processes are in place to support hiring managers through the talent acquisition cycle. Assist with the annual headcount plan, as needed.

Work with the Talent Acquisition Manager and central HR to develop existing programmes such as placement schemes, work experience, apprenticeship schemes etc.

Careers learning & development and performance

Work with the Chief People Officer to implement initiatives to ensure we continue to have the right mechanisms in place to create opportunities for our people to learn and grown. Specifically, owning our career framework planning. Help to identify training needs, aligning training programs with the brands objectives.

Assist with the performance review cycle (we use Lattice), as needed, providing insight and guidance on how to have the most effective performance discussions.

Technology and systems

Maintain appropriate systems for monitoring, measuring, and reporting HR activities within agreed formats and timescales. 

Compliance, policies, and procedures

Co-ordinate with the UK People team to issue and communicate a full suite of employee policies and act as the first-line support for any HR questions or issues.

Renumeration and Employee Benefits 

Facilitate pay benchmarking and keep the Focusrite Novation’s senior leadership team informed of market rates for pay, offering guidance and support on any areas of risk. Assist with insights/data in the annual salary review cycle, as well as analysing salary pay benchmarking data and developing benchmarking associated processes and projects. 

Employee relations and engagement 

Support and enable a culture of continuous feedback and improvement, and manage employee relations issues, as needed.

Assist as required with the annual and half-yearly engagement survey, including preparation, planning, employee comms, reporting, presenting results and developing actions and next steps with relevant managers.

Culture, values, diversity & inclusion

Assist with the overarching strategy of creating a culture where people are valued, and their contribution is recognised and rewarded. Co-ordinate with other members of the HR team to ensure the right culture, behaviours, initiatives, and policies are in place to support the needs of our people, including supporting the delivery and implementation of central initiatives, such as D&I, L&D, wellbeing, mentoring, placement students, work experience, and charity work.

Communications:

Be the lead HR person for all People comms that relate specifically to Focusrite Novation employees, and assist with the delivery of all People-related activities at regular all hands meetings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Has in-depth knowledge in own discipline and basic knowledge of related disciplines.
• Solves complex problems; takes a new perspective on existing solutions.
• Works independently; receives minimal guidance.
• May lead projects or project steps for the Focusrite Novation employees within a broader project or have accountability for ongoing activities or objectives.   
• Uses best practice and knowledge of internal business systems to improve HR services or processes.
• Typically resolves complex problems or problems where precedent may not exist.
• A minimum of 3 years of HR experience working in a generalist/HRBP role
• Degree level education and/or equivalent CIPD qualifications   
• Excellent communication skills to effectively communicate with the senior leadership team.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with all employees.
• Strong active listening skills, as well as the ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing with people of all skill levels and abilities.
• High emotional intelligence with an ability to build strong, trusting relationships with all stakeholders.
• Good planning and organising skills.

About Us

Focusrite plc is a global music and audio group that develops and markets music technology products. Used by audio professionals and amateur musicians alike, our solutions facilitate the high-quality production of recorded and live sound. Our audio technology brands stand together, seeking to enrich lives through music by removing barriers to creativity – ‘we make music easy to make’.

The Focusrite Group trades under thirteen established and rapidly growing brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, ADAM Audio, Sequential, Oberheim, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Ampify Music, Linea Research, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax. With a high-quality reputation and a rich heritage spanning decades, its brands are category leaders in the music-making industry.

Music technology is an enriching space to work in and we enjoy a Group-wide open-door culture which encourages innovation. This culture, combined with a passion for the inspirational solutions we create, has led to the group winning numerous accolades, including six Queen's Awards, the AIM Company of the Year Award 2021 and regular appearances in 'The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For’.

The Focusrite Group is dedicated to building a great place to work and as an equal opportunity employer we are committed to Diversity and Inclusion. The group mission is to cultivate an equitable culture, internally and externally, where all people feel they are welcome, safe and positively represented, because at Focusrite they truly are. Equally, we recognise the major impact that climate change is having on our world and work every day towards being industry leaders in a carbon neutral future.

Benefits include flexible/hybrid working, company pension, life insurance, private healthcare, enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay, employee purchase scheme, group bonus scheme, workplace nursery benefit, company music events, offsite company parties and free lunch in the canteen. We arrange company training sessions and encourage personal development.