People Business Partner

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

Position Overview:
The Economist Group is seeking an experienced, dynamic and collaborative People Business Partner to work with the Corporate Functional Leaders, spanning: Finance, Legal, Facilities, Transformation, Strategy and the Economist Education Foundation.  

This role will be responsible for leading on strategic people issues such as; talent management, capability development, reward and recognition, diversity and inclusion and employee engagement, as well as partnering with the leadership team to ensure that business challenges and opportunities are properly supported from a People perspective.  

In addition to the above, this role will have a Regional People Partner component across all EMEA locations, with the majority of colleagues being UK based. 

The ideal candidate will have solid experience of operating at a People Generalist level and several years at Business Partner level. 

Key Responsibilities

People Business Partner - Corporate Functions 

• Trusted advisor to the functional Executive Leadership Team members and their respective teams. Understanding the strategic priorities of the functional areas to enable them to partner in a proactive way.
• Change Agent for the adoption and implementation of new people initiatives or transformation programmes as well as for regular planned activities to ensure they are executed in their business area effectively and without disruption.
• Facilitate the engagement of the People Centre of Expertise teams and work in partnership with the business to ensure what is delivered is fit for purpose and meets the needs of the functional area. 
• Accountable for the accuracy of the people data for their function and working with the People Insights team to use data to support business decisions and identity trends across the functional areas. 
• Management of complex employee relations issues, supporting people managers with coaching and advice around difficult development or performance conversations.  

Regional People Partner - EMEA 

• Champion and cultivate a positive and inclusive office culture, driving colleague engagement and wellbeing initiatives.
• Provide regional support and expertise on employee-related matters in accordance with local employment laws, company policies, and best practices. Ensuring the  regional people practices comply with local employment requirements / legislation. 
• Work in partnership with the People Operations team to, where required, support in the onboarding and offboarding of colleagues. 
• Work with the People Insights team to track key regional People metrics, including headcount, retention, diversity markers and colleague satisfaction to identify trends. 
• Undertake regular data audits to ensure data accuracy is held within the HR Information System tool and work in partnership with the People Operations and Payroll team to ensure adherence to payroll practices in relation to any colleague changes.
• Working with our People Ops team to support colleagues through visa and immigration processes.
• Supporting the implementation and adherence to company policy and process in region. 
• Support Affinity Group activity in EMEA

Key Skills & Capabilities

• Business Acumen: Understand the impact of both internal and external forces on an organisation and use this to inform people strategies and decisions.
• Change Management: Expertise in managing organisational change and transformation projects.
• Listening: Be present and attentively listen to others. Effectively read the room and provide direction based on a thorough understanding of the situation.
• Questioning: Use insightful questions to broaden or narrow discussions, creating a deeper understanding of problems and furthering business issues.
• Conflict Resolution: Strong conflict resolution skills to mediate disputes and foster a collaborative environment.
• Global Mind-set: Facilitate work across globally diverse, virtual teams, ensuring effective collaboration and communication.
• Organisation Development: Consider both culture and capabilities when thinking about organisational development, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience working with HRIS systems (preferably HiBob and Greenhouse) and familiarity with Google suite and Slack.

Who you are

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; 
• Experience in a people business partner role, preferably within a commercial setting.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence and guide senior stakeholders.
• Experience with people analytics and the ability to use data to drive decision-making.
• Proven ingenuity and creativity, with a track record of implementing impactful people solutions.
• Competence in managing multiple projects and adapting to shifting priorities.
• Proactive mind-set with a willingness to embrace new challenges and assignments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

#LI-Hybrid 

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.