Job Description

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Description

At Rowden, we design and integrate advanced systems that sense, connect, and protect data in challenging environments where quick decisions are vital. Our solutions are built to support mission critical operations critical operations in remote or high-pressure settings.



Headquartered in Bristol (UK), we combine modern engineering methods with cutting-edge commercial technology to create adaptable, mission-critical systems. We focus on solving the tough challenges that others overlook, ensuring our customers can operate effectively in an ever-changing world.

The role: Senior People Partner (HRBP)

As we grow, we're looking for a Senior People Partner (HRBP) who will support and challenge managers to build high-performing, engaged teams. We're looking for someone who is smart, strategic, and operational - someone who can work closely with senior leaders, build trust quickly, solve complex people challenges, and drive forward pragmatic solutions with speed and confidence. This isn't a traditional back-office HR role - you'll be a hands-on partner to managers and teams.

You'll work within the People & Culture team, reporting to the Head of People, and act as a strategic business partner to our engineering teams, who make up the biggest proportion of our workforce. Your role will span everything from team design and workforce planning, to performance management, coaching, and change leadership. You'll bring structure to ambiguity, identify what matters most, and work at pace to make it happen. This is a critical role, with the ability to have a big impact on the company as it grows.

Formal HR credentials are welcome, but not essential. What matters most is your judgment, adaptability, drive, and ability to work with people to deliver high-impact results.###

Key areas of responsibility

As Senior People Business Partner at Rowden, you will be responsible for:

Strategic people partnering

Serve as a trusted advisor to functional leads and managers, providing insight and guidance on people-related matters Manage complex employee relations issues in a complex environment Support managers in attracting, assessing and selecting the right people for their teams Partner with managers to identify high-potential talent and create strong succession plans Identify gaps in learning and development and design relevant programs leveraging internal or external resources Drive implementation of career development frameworks

Coaching and mentoring

Coach managers to navigate performance evaluation and development conversations with confidence and clarity. Deliver training and tooling that empowers managers to lead well and scale team culture effectively.

Workforce planning

Lead and support workforce planning initiatives, partnering with Talent and Finance to align headcount with business goals. Design scalable people structures and frameworks that can evolve with business complexity.

Supporting change

Support and lead cross-functional change initiatives, enabling new ways of working and helping teams adopt them successfully. Champion Rowden's culture, values and behavioural expectations through your overall approach and interactions.


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Key skills, experience and behaviours

We are looking for someone that is motivated by impact, passionate about solving people-focused problems and driven to create a culture that enables strong business outcomes. You'll gain loads of experience in this role but before you do, you should have:

Essential Skills & Experience

5+ years' experience operating in a fast-paced, high-growth business (ideally tech, engineering, or similar). Experience advising leaders on people, team or organisational matters - whether through HR, operations, consulting or other strategic roles. Exposure across the full people lifecycle including effective onboarding, workforce planning, and performance management. Strong business acumen to quickly understand skills and responsibilities across technology focused roles and technical project delivery. High levels of emotional intelligence and strong coaching mindset. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels and win trust quickly. Experience delivering business-critical projects or organisational change involving people. The ability to bring structure and sound judgment to difficult problems.

About you:

Happy to get hands-on and work autonomously. Bias for action, strong prioritisation, and comfort with ambiguity. Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information with discretion.

Highly Desirable (but not essential)

Experience within People/HR, Operations, or Strategy roles. Exposure to employee relations and UK employment law. CIPD qualifications
More information about security clearance is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels
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Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don't meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we'd still love to hear from you!###

About Rowden

We're building the next UK-headquartered engineering powerhouse.

At Rowden, we design and integrate advanced systems that sense, connect, and protect data in challenging environments where quick decisions are vital. Our solutions use intelligent automation to enhance speed and efficiency and are built to be reliable and straightforward for critical operations in remote or high-pressure settings.

What matters to us?

Our focus is on the end user. We exist to deliver the best possible outcomes for the users of our systems. Pace matters. The problems we solve are urgent. Our diverse skills and backgrounds make us better. Our team prides itself on being inclusive and multidisciplinary. We are radically honest. Saying what we mean, even when it isn't easy. We are pragmatists. We provide realistic, focused solutions that get to the point. * We improve continuously. We are relentless in our drive to make things better.