People Business Partner - Retail (South)

Location: Ideally based around Northampton / Milton Keynes / Rugby

Travel: Regular regional travel required (3–4 days per week, including overnight stays)

We’re looking for an experienced Field People Partner to support our Southern region across a fast-paced, multi-site retail environment.

Working closely with senior operational leaders, you’ll act as a trusted people advisor, helping to drive performance, engagement and capability across the region. This is a highly visible role where you’ll spend significant time in stores, partnering with leaders to embed people initiatives, support succession planning and create high-performing teams.

You’ll play a key role in delivering both strategic and operational people priorities, using data and insight to influence decision-making and support commercial objectives. From coaching and challenging leaders to driving consistency in people practices, you’ll help shape a strong people culture across your region.

As part of the wider People team, you’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across the function, sharing best practice and ensuring alignment on key people initiatives and business priorities.

This role requires regular travel across the South, typically 3–4 days per week, including overnight stays, so flexibility and comfort with regional travel is essential.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-moving retail environment and brings strong experience operating in a true Business Partnering role.

You will ideally have

• Previous experience in a People Partner / HR Business Partner role within retail or another multi-site environment
• Strong understanding of fast-paced operational businesses and the ability to work at pace
• Proven experience partnering with senior operational stakeholders
• Confidence coaching, influencing and challenging leaders at all levels
• A commercially focused mindset with the ability to use people data and insight to support decision-making
• Experience driving engagement, performance, succession and capability initiatives
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Flexibility to travel extensively across the Southern region, including overnight stays
• This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced People Partner who enjoys being close to the business, building strong stakeholder relationships and making a visible impact across a large retail operation.

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business