Lead Business Partner

Employment Type: Full Time, Hybrid (2 days WFO / 3 days WFH)

At IES, we value People, Purpose and Innovation. We offer a flexible and supportive working environment and the opportunity to work with a team of friendly, interesting and diverse people from across the globe, who are passionate about what we do.

Over the last 30+ years, we have built a solid reputation as the leading global innovator in integrated performance based analysis and are now home to the most advanced building physics analytics team in the world. Our innovative software solutions and expert consultancy services empower designers, engineers, building owners and operators to deliver more efficient, comfortable and sustainable buildings through design, retrofit and operation.

Our dedicated Research & Innovation team ensures our technology and expertise remain best in class and at the forefront of innovation.

We are seeking a Lead People Business Partner to join IES at a pivotal stage of our growth. As we evolve from a generalist HR model to a three‑pillar People operating model, this role will lead the Business Partnering function and play a critical role in shaping people strategy, organisational capability and leadership effectiveness across the business.

What You’ll Do

• Partner with senior leaders to shape and deliver people strategies aligned to business priorities.
• Coach, support and challenge leaders to build strong management capability and accountability.
• Lead the IES values and engagement agenda, embedding values into day‑to‑day behaviours and culture.
• Use engagement data and insight to identify themes, risks and improvement actions.
• Own and evolve the performance management framework, supporting leaders through objective setting, reviews and calibration.
• Advise on complex performance, capability and employee relations matters.
• Lead strategic workforce planning and act as a trusted advisor on organisational design and change.
• Use people metrics and data to inform decision‑making and track outcomes.
• Advise leaders on reward strategy, pay positioning and recognition, including annual salary and bonus processes.
• Partner with leaders to identify learning needs and support the design of development programmes.
• Work closely with People Operations to ensure consistent, fair and legally compliant people practices.
• Significant experience in a senior HR Business Partner or People Partner role.
• Strong experience partnering with senior leaders in fast‑growing or transformational environments.
• Proven capability across performance management, employee relations, reward and workforce planning.
• Strong coaching, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience using people data and insight to drive decisions.
• Excellent communication skills with a pragmatic, commercial approach.
• Chartered CIPD membership.
• Experience with in technical, global or scale‑up organisations.
• Experience leading or building HR business partnering functions.

• Play a key role in shaping the people strategy of a growing climate tech business.
• Work closely with senior leaders during a period of meaningful change and growth.
• High impact, high visibility role with genuine opportunity to influence.
• Competitive salary, strong benefits and flexible working.
• Collaborative values-driven culture with a strong sense of purpose.

Send a cover letter detailing your relevant skills and an up to date CV to  Please include the job title and reference number in your application.

Early applications are encouraged as this vacancy may close once sufficient applications are received.

IES is committed to an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, for example, sharing interview questions in advance, allowing breaks between stages, or offering extra time where needed.

If you require support at any point, please contact the IES HR team at  or .

To apply for the role please send a covering letter stating the skills you have from the requirements listed and an up to date CV to:

Early application is encouraged and IES reserves the right to close this vacancy yearly should sufficient applications be received.