At Hearst UK, there’s always more to the story. Join us as our new Head of Business Partnering to start the next chapter in your career. We have 2 key roles that will lead in shaping the people strategy and people agenda for our commercial and content business areas. These newly established roles will be pivotal in driving strategic HR support across commercial & editorial teams, operating as truly commercial and strategic business partners to the assigned areas. This includes ensuring we attract, develop, and retain top talent, drive a performance and growth culture, and keep abreast of ER across the business area overall. You will lead a small but impactful team, including a People Partner and a Talent Acquisition & Development Partner, to deliver pragmatic end-to-end people solutions to enable the business areas that they support.

We’re the UK’s leading premium publisher, and the people behind iconic media brands such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Country Living. We’ve created a working environment that encourages everyone to pull together. We never stop looking for brave new ideas. We’ll always try to develop and improve, we trust each other to do our best, and we have fun as we build on our heritage to make history.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

Strategic HR Leadership:

Act as a trusted advisor to senior editorial leaders, providing expert guidance on people-related matters, including organisational design, workforce planning, and talent management. Develop and execute a people strategy that aligns with the editorial division’s business objectives, driving both short- and long-term goals. Oversee the design and implementation of performance management, employee engagement, and succession planning initiatives within the editorial teams.

Team Management and Development:

Lead, coach, and mentor the People Partner and the Talent Acquisition & Development Partner, fostering a high-performance culture within the function. Ensure effective collaboration between the HRBP, Talent Acquisition & Development Partner, and leadership to deliver cohesive people strategies. Create a supportive and innovative environment where team members can grow and excel.

Talent Acquisition and Development:

Oversee recruitment and talent acquisition strategies to attract top talent, ensuring diversity and inclusivity are embedded in hiring practices. Partner with the Talent Acquisition & Development Partner to develop career pathways and learning programs tailored to staff, supporting their growth and development. Foster a talent development culture that aligns with functional needs and industry trends.

Employee Relations and Engagement:

Drive initiatives to build a positive employee experience, enhancing engagement, wellbeing, and retention within the function. Act as the escalation point for complex employee relations issues, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to People policies. Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the function, promoting a culture of belonging.

Change Management and Organizational Development:

Lead and manage change initiatives within the XXX team, providing guidance on restructuring, role transitions, and organisational development. Support the function through periods of transformation, ensuring seamless communication and minimal disruption.

Metrics and Reporting:

Establish key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of People Team initiatives. Provide data-driven insights to leadership to influence decision-making on people strategies.

ABOUT YOU

Proven experience in a senior HR leadership, ideally within a media, creative, or content-driven organisation. Strong background in talent management, employee relations, and organisational development. Experience leading and developing HR teams. Demonstrated success in partnering with senior leaders to drive people strategies that align with business objectives. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels. Passion for driving innovation in HR practices and a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Data mindset, able to propose solutions based on key metrics and insights.

 

WHAT WE OFFER

At Hearst UK, you can choose from a huge range of perks and benefits that can help you learn well, work well and live well including:

 

25 days’ holiday (with the option to buy up to 5 additional holiday days) - pro rated for part-time or fixed-term employees Hybrid working  Discounted gym membership Healthcare cash plan Spend a charity day with your favourite good cause Life assurance and pension scheme Regular socials and more!

 

There’s more to your story than you imagine. And the next chapter begins right here. 

 

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. As a business, we recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that comes with diverse teams. Not only is diversifying the voices in our organization the right thing to do, but it also helps us to make powerful and exciting content that can be enjoyed by many more people. This is why we’re working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.