Interim HR Business Partner (6-Month Contract)
Location: Northampton (Hybrid – 2–3 days per week in the office)
Day Rate: £350–£400/day
Sector: Engineering
Our client is an established, high-performing British engineering business, investing in the people infrastructure required to support its next stage of growth. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a developing HR function, with direct access to senior leadership and a clear mandate to improve how the business attracts, manages, and supports its people. This is a hands-on, commercially minded generalist role, working closely with the senior leadership team. You will operate at both strategic and transactional levels building structure, improving process, and keeping delivery moving in a fast-paced environment.
The Role
You will own and deliver across four core areas:
- End-to-end HR processes: design, build and improve people processes across the full employee lifecycle (hire to exit).
- HR policy & governance: develop, implement, and maintain HR policy aligned to UK employment law and best practice.
- Full-cycle recruitment: lead recruitment from brief through to offer, partnering closely with hiring managers.
- Day-to-day people support provide practical, proactive HR support to leaders and managers, including employee relations case management.
You will also help build the foundations for better people decisions through metrics, systems and reporting.
What we are look for:
- CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum; Level 7 preferred)
- 5+ years HR experience, including 3+ years at HRBP / HR Manager level
- Strong UK employment law and policy capability (creation + maintenance)
- Hands-on employee relations experience (disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance)
- Proven process improvement track record (templates, workflows, HR systems from the ground up)
- Confident communicator who can coach and influence managers with a pragmatic, human approach
Desirable Experience
- TUPE, restructuring and/or HRIS implementation
- Background in engineering, manufacturing, or a comparable high-performance technical environment