HR Business Partner - Vice President
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Role Summary
We are looking for a strategic and proactive HR Business Partner (Vice President) to play a pivotal role in shaping our people strategy across the EMEA region. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with senior leaders and drive initiatives that foster a high-performing, inclusive culture aligned with business objectives. In this role you will:
- Act as a trusted advisor to the business,
- Champion Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI),
- You’ll leverage data-driven insights to optimise workforce strategies,
- Lead talent and succession planning and steer organisational development,
- Support change management, and ensure compliance within a dynamic, regulated environment.
If you are passionate about delivering impactful HR solutions and influencing cultural transformation at scale, this position offers the platform to make a significant difference. You'll be critical in shaping a high-performing, inclusive culture while aligning HR strategies with business objectives. Our role offers the chance to influence organisational development and contribute to exciting projects across departments and the wider EMEA region.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with business leaders to design and implement HR strategies that support organisational goals and regulatory requirements in alignment with our HR and business strategy.
- Champion DEI initiatives, ensuring equity and inclusion are embedded in all HR programs, policies, and practices.
- Provide expert guidance on employee relations, performance management, and organisational development.
- Lead People and Succession Planning with a focus on building diverse pipelines.
- Analyse HR and DEI metrics to identify trends and recommend actionable solutions for workforce optimisation.
- Support change management efforts and foster a culture of continuous improvement and belonging.
- Ensure compliance with employment laws, financial services regulations, and company policies.
- Collaborate with HR Centres of Excellence (COEs) on compensation, talent acquisition, learning, and leadership development programs.
Skills and Experience
- Strong progressive HR experience, with prior experience in a strategic HR business partner role ideally within financial services or a regulated industry.
- Strong track record of delivering the full HR lifecycle and broad expertise across employment law, compensation, performance management and organisation design.
- Action orientated with a strong delivery focus.
- Strong knowledge of HR best practices, employment law, and DEI principles.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cultural change.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills.
- Experience with HRIS and data analytics tools; familiarity with DEI reporting is a plus.
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working, a minimum of 2/3 days in the office per week
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.