Senior Principal HR Business Partner

Senior Principal HR Business Partner Midlands Local Authority Location: Hybrid Working – 2 days per week onsite Duration: 3 months initially, with likely extensions Rate: £500-600p/d Umbrella Inside IR35 A large and complex local authority is seeking an experienced Senior Principal HR Business Partner to provide strategic HR leadership across the organisation. This is a senior-level position with direct management responsibility for three Senior HR Business Partners, each supporting key directorates across the council, including Children's & Families, Adult Social Care, Resources, the CEO's Office and Public Health. Key Responsibilities • Provide strategic HR business partnering support to senior leaders and directorates across the council • Lead, manage and develop a team of Senior HR Business Partners, ensuring a high-performing and customer-focused HR service • Act as the lead adviser on complex employee relations matters, including high-risk cases, organisational change and employment tribunal activity • Support the delivery of workforce transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities • Lead the development and implementation of the council's MAR Scheme, taking ownership of its design, governance and ongoing operation • Build strong relationships with directors, heads of service and elected members, influencing decision-making and driving organisational performance Essential Requirements • Ideally CIPD level 7 • Significant experience operating at a senior HR leadership level within a large and complex organisation • Strong people management experience, with a proven track record of leading and developing senior HR professionals • Extensive employee relations expertise, including management of complex cases and employment tribunals • Previous Local Government experience is essential • Experience supporting organisations of similar scale and complexity, ideally with workforces of several thousand employees • Ability to operate strategically while providing hands-on support where required This is an excellent opportunity for a senior local government HR professional to make a significant impact within a large council environment, leading a high-profile HR function through key workforce initiatives and complex organisational challenges.