HR Business Partner at Sealaska in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, GB

HR Business Partner

The HR Business Partner is a new position that will provide support across the Geosciences division, with a primary focus on employees and independent contractors working in the UK, Ireland, Italy and globally outside the US. The position will report through Woocheen International Limited, which is a shared services organization that provides administrative support services to the Geosciences division.

The Geosciences division is part of Woocheen, LLC, the holding company for Sealaska Corporation’s collection of operating businesses. The division is focused on near-, on-, and off-shore geotechnical and environmental services, including site investigation, soil characterization, drilling, and installation of wells and boreholes among other highly technical offerings. The division is fast-growing and is currently made up of the flagship and start-up, Seas Geosciences, along with Causeway Geotech, DME Systems, Scantech, Gregg Drilling, Pitcher Services, and C.S. Marine.

Role Purpose

This standalone role offers a unique opportunity to shape and develop the HR function within a growing international business environment. This is a true generalist role requiring a hands-on approach, with responsibility for everything from recruitment and onboarding to employee relations, HR & Payroll administration, organisational change, and compliance. The business is ever-changing and fast-paced – formal processes and procedures are not in stone, and the nature of the work requires that common-sense and flexibility rule the day. This is a customer-service oriented role that can make a difference in the organization by truly partnering with operations. As the businesses continue to grow, the scope and impact of this role may expand accordingly.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted HR partner to employees and managers across the UK and international operations, providing practical advice and support in a dynamic, rapidly growing organization. Influence and challenge stakeholders to drive effective people decisions and support organizational growth, change, and transformation. Lead employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes. Oversee the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, employment documentation, payroll support, and records management. Ensure compliance with employment legislation, governance requirements, and company policies across multiple jurisdictions. Partner with Employer of Record providers and international colleagues to support global workforce management. Continuously improve HR processes, systems, and ways of working to enhance efficiency, compliance, and the employee experience. Foster employee engagement and help build a positive, high-performing culture aligned with business objectives. Facilitate and track professional services agreements with independent contractors.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

Proven experience in an HR Business Partner or similar generalist role supporting employees in multiple countries, partnering with senior leaders and supporting business growth in a dynamic environment. Strong knowledge of UK employment law and practical experience managing the full employee lifecycle. Demonstrated experience handling complex employee relations matters and advising managers on people-related issues. Experience supporting recruitment and talent acquisition activities from end to end. Strong stakeholder management, communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills. Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and operational delivery. Experience working across multiple jurisdictions, including partnering with international teams and external employment providers. Highly self-motivated, able to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing priorities. Strong systems and technology skills, including Microsoft Office and HRIS platforms. Experience managing employee data, onboarding, payroll coordination, compliance documentation, and HR administration. Flexibility to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders across different time zones. Experience living in multiple countries/speaking multiple languages is a plus.

Personal Attributes

Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and is comfortable working with ambiguity and change. Pragmatic, solutions-oriented, and commercially minded. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable shifting between strategic and operational responsibilities. Builds trust quickly and establishes strong working relationships across all levels of an organization. Professional, discreet, and able to handle sensitive and confidential information with sound judgment. Passionate about creating a positive employee experience and fostering a high-performing culture.