Senior HR Business Partner

BRAND: Publicis Groupe
Job Function: Human Resources
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Intermediate
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

OVERVIEW
Publicis Groupe is the world's largest communications holding companies, present in over 110 countries and employing about 108,000 professionals. The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

HELPING OUR CLIENTS UNLOCK GROWTH IN THE PLATFORM WORLD
Our clients compete in the platform world, a horizontal marketplace between creators and consumers, between speakers and listeners, between buyers and sellers. To thrive in the platform world, companies must continue to innovate their products and business models. Four imperatives (1. Real Identity, 2. Dynamic, Diverse and Disruptive Creativity 3., Smart Media and 4. Direct Relationships) via our suite of world-class agencies, are necessary for modern brands to win in the platform world. At Publicis Groupe, we've invested in capabilities across these four imperatives our clients need to unlock growth. As the only one who can architect, build and orchestrate end to end solutions, not only do we have a proven record of building bespoke models for clients and leading expertise across all major industry categories, we are able to offer our talents more opportunities to grow and benefit from a richer learning experience. We call this Power of One. Powered by a 100,000-strong network via Marcel, our AI-based platform, we are also able to provide our clients and talents instant access to resource, knowledge for any need, any time, in any market.

THE SPIRIT OF VIVA LA DIFFERENCE
Viva La Difference is deeply rooted in everything we do. It has always been in our DNA. From the birth of Publicis, 94 years ago, when Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, our founder, invented French advertising. Viva La Difference expresses how we value and respect each individual and recognize what makes us distinctive. This is the charge that inspires our teams to celebrate the differences in identity, background, culture, and experience of all of us. It is how we behave with each other and our clients, and it is deeply rooted throughout our work, to elevate and bring to life our differences throughout the platform world.

Overview

Location: London (Hybrid)
Department: Talent (HR) Partnering - Publicis Media International

About Publicis Media

Publicis Media helps clients drive sustainable business growth by harnessing the modern media landscape to drive one-to-one consumer connections at scale. Publicis Media UK is made up of circa 2000 people working across market-leading media agencies including Zenith, Starcom and Spark Foundry as well as specialist practices such as Publicis Media Exchange (PMX), Performics, Publicis Sport & Entertainment or Publicis Media Content. Together they combine deep expertise in media investment, strategy, insights and analytics, data and technology, commerce, performance marketing and content. Publicis Media is part of Publicis Groupe and is present in more than 100 countries with over 23,500 employees worldwide. Publicis Media International incorporates our global agencies: Zenith International, Spark International and Starcom International as well as Power of One Teams: Publicis Imagine, Publicis Leon and Publicis

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About the Role

This role sits within the Talent (HR) Partnering Team and supports designated business areas within Publicis Media International. The wider HR Team at Publicis Groupe UK operates on a brand partnership model, supported by specialist teams in Learning & Development, Talent Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Compensation & Benefits.

As a Senior HR Business Partner/ Senior Talent Partner, you will work closely with the Talent Director and senior stakeholders across Publicis Media International, providing guidance on a wide range of people and talent matters. Responsibilities will vary depending on business needs and include managing employee relations cases, delivering engagement initiatives, and contributing to Groupe-wide talent projects.

This is a fast-paced and varied role where no two days are the same. It's also a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong talent partnering experience who is ready to step up into a senior position.

Strategic Leadership & Partnership

We're looking for someone who can act as a trusted advisor to senior C-Suite stakeholders, bringing expertise and guidance on all Talent matters. You'll play a key role in shaping strategic people decisions and work closely with the Talent Director and business leaders to design and deliver our annual people strategy.

Employee Engagement & Organisational Development

You'll lead initiatives that drive engagement and strengthen our culture, ensuring employees feel supported and motivated. This includes managing organisational change programmes - from restructures and TUPE to redundancies and employee relations - always with a focus on fairness, transparency, and business impact.

Talent Programmes & People Processes

You will design and deliver high-impact Talent projects across Publicis Media and the wider Publicis Groupe UK. Alongside this, you'll manage core processes such as talent mapping, performance reviews, and salary reviews, ensuring data accuracy, benchmarking, and insight-driven recommendations to support equitable outcomes.

4. Data, Insights & Performance

We value evidence-based decision-making. In this role, you'll interpret people data and engagement insights to shape strategy and drive improvements. You'll also coach and guide managers to build consistency in performance management, helping them strengthen their leadership skills.

5. Team Development & Collaboration

As a people leader, you'll coach and support direct reports while fostering collaboration and continuous learning across the team. You'll also work closely with Centres of Excellence (L&D, Recruitment, Talent Operations, DE&I, and Reward) to deliver development opportunities and contribute to cross-functional projects that enhance the employee experience.

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic and resilient Team player with a can-do attitude
• Detail orientated and organised with the ability to be able to manage a varied workload
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing tasks in an agile manner
• Confident and capable leader, able to appropriately manage competing priorities to deliver the right things at the right time
• A good problem solver and creative thinker
• Experience working in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• Embracing change and continuous improvement with a growth mindset - both for personal development and in response to a changing work environment
• Ideally CIPD qualified or similar/ working towards one is preferred
• Strong employment law knowledge and extensive employee relations experience
• Previous experience of using HR systems and HR databases
• Experienced and confident in gathering and analysing data, confident with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Previous experience in media/ similar industry preferred but not essential
• Experienced working in global businesses, engaging with international stakeholders across diverse cultures
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, including C-Suite Executives, within a matrix environment
• Self-starter who is adaptable to business needs as we grow, with high energy and drive, and able to work independently

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Additional information

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office-based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG's (Employee Action Groups).