HR Business Partner (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Job Introduction

Here at Titan Travel, we’re fiercely passionate about providing customers with fantastic holidays. Right now, we’re looking for a strategic thinker with excellent leadership and motivational skills, to join our Human Resources team. Part of the Saga Group, we take our customers to some of the world’s most exciting destinations, from Kathmandu to New England and Buenos Aires to Alaska, where travellers have access to once in a lifetime experiences and can create memories they can treasure forever.  

A great opportunity to work as a true business partner to the Titan and Transport businesses, you’ll represent and lead a small HR team and help drive and deliver a range of people and business strategies. You’ll also get to work across all aspects of the Human Resources remit, including having responsibility for the implementation and success of HR policies and initiatives.

You’ll need to be highly customer focused as the role is integral to supporting and delivering The Titan / Transport Way by putting the best interests of our people at the heart of all you do and realising that nothing is too much trouble for both our internal and external customers.

And in return, you can look forward to all of the responsibility and involvement of an integral role, providing you with a rewarding and fast paced career with an excellent benefits package including life assurance, pension, high street and online discounts, and concessions for holidays and travel.

Role Responsibility

Employee relations

• Act as a partner and trusted advisor to the senior leadership team with the Titan and Transport businesses, challenging the status quo, influencing and debating strategic and operational issues
• Responsible for maintaining a strong customer relationship between HR and the business through the provision of professional and commercially focused advice to line management
• Provide strategic direction in employee relations playing a critical role in building and embedding the Titan / Transport Way culture
• Contribute to the development of, and manage the delivery of specific HR projects, policies and processes in accordance with business specifications and aligning these to our Group strategy
• Supporting line managers across the business on organisational structure and design
• Work with the Group HR team on the people review processes, including pay, performance and succession.  Identify talent and development needs, as well as opportunities to grow internal talent
• Proactive management of employee relations cases escalated by the HR Officer. Ensure that each case meets the requirements of the Company’s policies, best practice and employment legislation
• Monitor and report monthly on key HR trends throughout the organisation - headcount, turnover, recruitment, absence, and diversity metrics
• Work closely with the business, providing them with expert guidance, coaching and support on the full range of HR activities (including policies and procedures, terms and conditions of employment, absence management, change programmes, performance management, redundancy planning etc), in order to ensure a consistent and fair approach to people management throughout the Company
• Keep up to date with legal developments and advise management on compliance and risk factors
• Manage any litigation processes and liaise with the Company lawyers where appropriate to understand advice for the business, including advising and executing Settlement Agreements
• Implement and maintain HR policies and procedures to ensure effective, fair and consistent management of staff throughout the organisation, and ensure that the staff handbook is comprehensive and up-to-date
• Monitor and review the system of performance appraisal and continually develop as necessary
• Carry out job evaluation/regrading/benchmarking of all roles on an on-going basis across all areas

Recruitment (senior roles plus supporting HR team with more junior roles)

• Assisting in building strong talent pipelines and managing recruitment up to Director level
• Work with the business manager to develop the job description considering the behaviours, competencies, responsibility, duties and tasks expected of the job holder
• Ensure that the HR team comply with recruitment and internal transfer processes and any changes are approved in line with Corporate Governance (including benchmarking/grading, referencing, CRB/Credit checks etc). Where appropriate, roles are to be considered by the Business Panel
• Development of appropriate selection processes to ensure that the business can identify and select the candidates who are the best fit for both the role and the organisational values. Work with the business to train managers who carry out interviews on best practice and company procedures
• Ensuring all recruitment activity falls in line with current legislation
• Verbally offering senior roles and sending contracts and offer packs
• Oversee the planning and delivery of induction to all starters ensure a consistent approach and ensure that all documentation has been collated and proof of right to work in the UK established

General and adhoc

• Coaching and mentoring junior team members
• Support the Head of HR and Managing Director with any projects as requested
• Adopt a flexible, enthusiastic and driven approach to achieving the financial goals of the business
• Contribute to maintaining a high level of housekeeping and attention to health and safety issues so as to create a healthy and safe working environment
• Willingly carry out any other duties deemed appropriate by the Company in line with the company Employee Handbook

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, Knowledge and Experience:

• A true HR generalist with a good knowledge and understanding of the entire HR function, including HR processes and employment law
• A self-starter with a proven record of delivering results which add value and fit with the culture of the organisation – success through positive behaviour
• Ability to maintain a commercial focus and think business, customer and brand
• A confident communicator and influencer who is at ease with operating at a senior level
• Demonstrable competence in working within an HR role with a proven track record of strategic thinking whilst delivering key HR initiatives successfully within budget and timelines
• A proven people manager and coach – comfortable coaching senior managers and junior employees
• Proven ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Able to use judgement, discretion and tact in dealing with confidential information
• Demonstrated ability to come up with innovative solutions
• Ability to understand and communicate reporting and conduct specific investigations and analysis work
• Ability to arbitrate and resolve difficult situations

Education and Qualifications:

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• CIPD qualified (or studying towards) or equivalent experience

Personal Characteristics:

• Curious, pragmatic and flexible
• Strategic thinker
• Leadership & motivation skills
• Ability to build relationships and deliver high standard HR service to business leaders
• Positive and self-motivated with the ability to use initiative
• Excellent communicator and influencer with strong interpersonal skills - verbal, written and listening
• Pro-active and commercially astute HR professional
• Adding value through people development
• Excellent time management and the ability to deal with several tasks at once
• Flexible approach to working hours and site to support business operation
• Personal values of integrity and honesty

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
• Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Pension
• AXA Be Supported
• Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
• Free fruit 
• Give as you earn
• Free eye tests
• Honeymoon benefit
• Sharebuy
• Salary finance
• Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
• A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Long service awards

About the Company

When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. 

We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.

To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

Saga Group