Regional People Business Partner in Bristol

Pets at Home Vet Group has 450 practices which are operated as individual Joint Venture businesses. Over 400 practices operate under the Vets4Pets brand and the remainder Companion Care. Our Joint Venture model is unique to the UK vet market and it offers ambitious vets an early route to practice ownership with professional support on financing, IT, HR, Marketing and Buying. Each partner has full clinical freedom to do whatever they believe to be right for each individual patient, including using the products of their choice.

This is an exciting opportunity act as a true Business Partner by supporting, advising and coaching the regional field teams on all people related activity and working closely with the People Team to develop strategies and practices which will drive engagement, develop capability and drive performance improvement.

You will be required as the PBP to advise and coach managers at all levels on people related activities to ensure we deliver our people strategy. The People function is very much a team effort and the PBP will be expected to recommend proactive and appropriate people solutions to support the wider team in the delivery of those solutions.

This role needs to be an ambassador for the People team as a whole, ensuring visibility across the organisation.

You will need to develop professional and effective relationships across the wider business. Visibility across the region and strong communication with the Area Relationship Managers is essential to the success of the role.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop strong partnering relationships with the Regional Directors and Area Relationship Managers, acting as an internal consultant to diagnose, develop and implement effective people strategies and people plans which support the business goals and drive sustained performance in alignment with our Group People Strategy

• Provide clear measurable feedback to coach the Regional Directors, and Area Relationship Managers on their personal impact and leadership, to enable them to develop themselves and others and role model our behaviours and values

• Work with Regional Directors, Area Relationship Managers and the L & D team to identify and plan relevant learning and development across the region in order to improve performance, capability and talent development to further the objectives of the regional and area practice plans.

• Oversee the induction programme and ongoing development of both internally promoted & externally recruited Area Relationship Managers to enable them to perform effectively as quickly as possible.

• Support and drive the engagement and wellbeing initiative for the region, ensuring all partners take responsibility for their own teams’ engagement and ensuring robust action plans and effective feedback mechanisms are in place to drive engagement at all levels. Play an active role in any survey preparation and results cascade to ensure understanding and buy-in.

• Oversee the induction programme and ongoing development of both internally promoted & externally recruited Area Relationship Managers to enable them to perform effectively as quickly as possible.

• Provide advice and guidance on action plans to support retention and development of high potential individuals. Develop robust succession plans at Regional level with actions clearly identified and planned for.

• Work closely with the L & D team to plan and deliver leadership development programmes regionally as required

• Work closely with the Recruitment Manager and team to ensure all regional vacancies are filled as efficiently as possible.

• Drive the region to ensure all new colleagues regardless of level have a great on-boarding and induction experience.

• Advise, guide, mediate and support Field Teams on high level or complex employee relations cases and absence issues where necessary, working closely with the People team.

• Identify any trends with the Lead People Partner and provide training and/or support where necessary to managers if improvements are needed.

• Oversee, coach and support managers with performance management as necessary.

• Keep abreast of current legislation/trends and input into people policy reviews as required. Drive regularly review and analyse management information and implement necessary actions/initiatives to drive performance improvement and ensure the retention of great colleagues.

• Embed our values and behaviours within all resourcing practices, and bring to life across the region, ensuring all future talent are aligned to our brand, ways or working, values and behaviours.

• Up-skill managers to make values and behaviour based decisions.

Essential experience

• You will have proven experience in a BP role, ideally in retail or similar environment.
• You will have a solid HR background
• You will have the ability to lead a strategic agenda and the agility to deal with the tactical operational activity this role can also bring
• You will have great planning, prioritisation and organisation skills
• You will have a proven ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• You will be a team player who can operate remotely but also within a wider team
• You will have a high level of emotional intelligence and great judgement and decision making skills
• You will be an ambassador for change and able to support others during periods of change

The Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• 36 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Birthday Leave - 1 day extra leave to celebrate your Birthday!
• The option to buy extra holidays
• Colleague Discount- 20% discount for you (plus one family member). This can be used in Pets at Home Stores, Groom Rooms, Companion Care Veterinary Services, and Pet Plan Insurance!
• “Treats” benefits- an online range of offers and discounts which are available exclusively to Pets at Home Colleagues
• Life assurance
• Contributory Private Health Care
• Charity Leave- You are entitled to have one paid day’s leave each year to work for your favourite animal related charity.
• Celebrating Special Celebrations? You’ll get 1 extra week off and a gift to celebrate your wedding or civil partnership, and a gift from us if you are expecting or adopting a baby!
• Free Car Parking
• Free Gym
• Colleague of the Month Awards
• Cycle to Work Scheme