People Partner

Northern Ireland Water Limited; Belfast; On-site; GBP 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A charity organization in Belfast seeks a capable HR leader to drive key People initiatives including employee relations, recruitment, and policy development. The ideal candidate will have extensive HR experience, strong employment law knowledge, and excellent communication skills. This role offers an annual salary of £41,395.48, a 35-hour work week, hybrid working options, and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Annual salary of £41,395.48

35 days annual leave

On-site parking

Flexi time

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• Extensive HR experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to manage employee relations.
• Solid IT skills required.

Responsibilities

• Build partnerships with stakeholders and provide guidance.
• Lead and develop the People team, ensure SLAs.
• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Support employee development and training needs.
• Provide coaching on employee relations matters.

Skills

HR experience

Strong employment law knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Strong problem-solving skills

Team management capability

Education

Third‑level qualification

CIPD membership (or willingness)

Tools

BambooHR

Softworks

Job description

An opportunity to lead and support key People initiatives across stakeholder partnering, employee relations, recruitment, learning, policy development and system improvements-acting as a trusted advisor to drive best practice, enable change, and ensure a compliant, engaged and high-performing workforce.

The organisation:

Depaul is a cross‑border charity working to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The organisation provides emergency accommodation, outreach, and housing services, aiming to prevent homelessness and improve lives. Guided by its values, Depaul works with individuals, families, and communities to create lasting change and promote a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

The role:

• Build strong, collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, providing expert guidance on legislation, policy, workforce planning and learning initiatives.
• Lead, support and develop the People team, acting as the escalation point for ER issues and ensuring adherence to SLAs, GDPR and best‑practice processes.
• Oversee key operational areas including payroll checks, employee engagement activity, audits and follow‑up action plans.
• Ensure compliant, high‑quality recruitment and onboarding processes, delivering inductions for new employees and managers.
• Support learning and development by identifying training needs, facilitating programmes and coordinating mandatory training reporting.
• Provide expert coaching and guidance on all employee relations matters, including absence, performance, conduct, grievances and engagement with trade unions.
• Develop and maintain people policies, processes and systems, supporting change management, system improvements and regular reporting on key People metrics.

The Person

As the successful candidate you will have the following background and experience:

Essential:

• Extensive HR experience with strong employment law knowledge and proven ability to manage in a fast‑paced environment.
• Third‑level qualification, CIPD membership (or willingness), and solid IT skills essential.
• Desirable experience in digital transformation, BambooHR, Softworks, and change management initiatives.
• Strong team management capability.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, with the confidence to advise senior managers.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, initiative, and ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.

What's in it for you?

• An annual salary £41,395.48
• 35-hour work week
• Fantastic annual leave allowance (35 days)
• Hybrid working
• Flexi time
• On‑site parking
• An opportunity to provide strategic People support across partnering, employee relations, recruitment, learning and policy development, driving best practice, supporting organisational change, ensuring compliance, and strengthening a positive, high‑performing culture through effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity please send an up to date CV via the link provided or contact Meghan Hamilton, Senior Recruitment Consultant on 02896935508 or on email at [e-mail].

MCS Group is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all, being the first recruitment agency in NI to achieve Bronze Diversity Mark accreditation, if you have a disability which means you require a reasonable adjustment to be considered at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us and we will endeavour to facilitate the request.

Even if this position is not right for you, we may have others that are. Please visit MCS Group to view a wide selection of our current jobs www.mcsgroup.jobs