Senior HR Business Partner (Fixed-Term)

YASA Limited.; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading electric motor technology company in Oxford is seeking an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to deliver strategic HR support across the full employee lifecycle. You will provide expert guidance while working directly with all levels of management. The ideal candidate has a strong background in engineering or manufacturing and a proven ability to influence senior leaders. This is a fixed-term role for 12 months offering an engaging work environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an engineering, manufacturing, or high-tech operational environment.
• Experience delivering HR initiatives across all levels of the organisation.
• Strong experience as a credible HR business partner.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance across all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers at all levels.
• Lead and deliver key people initiatives and projects.

Skills

Experience in an engineering or manufacturing environment

Strong HR partnership experience

Ability to influence at senior levels

Experience in fast-moving environments

Job description

Summary

YASA is looking for an experienced, hands‑on HR professional to join the team. In this role you will be working closely with the HR Director and the HR team to deliver YASA’s people strategy and strengthen our organisational culture.

As Senior HR Business Partner, you will provide expert HR support across the full employee lifecycle, combining strategic insight with practical, sleeves‑rolled‑up delivery.

You’ll work directly with managers and leaders at all levels — from team leaders through to senior leaders — to diagnose organisational needs, enable change, build capability, and deliver people initiatives that enhance performance, engagement, and culture.

In a fast‑moving environment, you will balance strategic influence with hands‑on execution, helping to deliver pragmatic, high‑quality HR support across the business.

This role is for a 12‑month fixed‑term period.

About YASA

YASA, a Mercedes‑Benz group company, is leading the way in EV Motor Revolution with our patented and unique Axial Flux Technology. Our motor is more powerful, lighter, and smaller than our competitors. Our spirit of innovation drives us to continually explore and test new technologies, a mindset that exists from early‑stage R&D projects through to manufacturing optimisation. We stay true to the freedom and flexibility that drove our success as a start‑up, alongside having the stability, security, and roadmap of an established organisation.

What You’ll Do

• Provide expert guidance across all aspects of the employee lifecycle — including workforce planning, organisation design, performance management, employee relations, reward, and talent development.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and sounding board to managers at all levels, offering clear, pragmatic HR advice and helping them navigate challenges confidently.
• Lead and deliver key people initiatives and projects, ensuring alignment with business priorities and effective implementation.
• Work closely with the HR team to review and improve HR processes and systems, promoting efficient, scalable, and user‑focused ways of working.
• Support the development of YASA’s People Plan and HR metrics, including priority‑setting, progress tracking, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Support effective internal communications, ensuring people‑related messages are clear, consistent, and cascaded appropriately to managers and teams.
• Champion a performance‑driven, values‑led culture, supporting leaders and team managers to role‑model behaviours that foster engagement, accountability, and collaboration.
• Provide pragmatic advice to manage risk and ensure compliance, including employment law, HR policies, health & safety, and data protection.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and capability of the HR function, supporting consistent, high‑quality service across a lean team.
• Use data and insight to inform decisions, identify trends, and measure the impact of people initiatives.
• Provide flexible, pragmatic support to wider business challenges, offering credible HR expertise where needed.
• Play an active role in business improvement, supporting strong leadership, building employee engagement, and strengthening organisational effectiveness.
• Undertake other duties as required, commensurate with the level and experience of the role.

To succeed in this role, we believe you’ll need

• Previous experience in an engineering, manufacturing, or high‑tech operational environment, bringing an understanding of complex organisational structures, production‑focused teams, or technical workforce dynamics.
• Experience delivering HR initiatives across all levels of the organisation — from frontline team leaders to senior leaders.
• Strong experience as a credible HR business partner, with the ability to influence at senior levels and coach managers across the business.
• Experience in lean, fast‑moving environments, balancing strategic influence with hands‑on delivery.

Though not expected, it would be very beneficial if you have

• Experience in learning and development, including capability building, leadership development, coaching, or training delivery.

Our mission is to lead the design and delivery of the best electric motor technology available. We believe that diversity of thought, and experience is a key driver of innovation. Research shows that while men apply to jobs if they meet ~60% of criteria, women and those in traditionally underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they check all boxes. So if you think you have what it takes but don’t meet every single point, please still get in touch. We’d love to have an initial chat and see if you could add value.

Strictly no recruitment agencies / Apply now for immediate consideration