HR Business Partner - UK/EMEA

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled HR Business Partner to join our growing HR team. This role will be instrumental in supporting our UK/EMEA employees and leadership teams, serving as a trusted adviser on all people matters while ensuring we maintain a compliant, consistent, and people-centered approach to HR delivery.

The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, partnering closely with business leaders to drive people strategies aligned with Azul's objectives. With a strong focus on employee relations, employment law compliance, benefits management, organizational effectiveness, and colleague wellbeing, you will act as a key HR contact for the UK and EMEA, working collaboratively with our global HR and business operations teams to deliver excellence.

You will report to the Head of Global HR and work in close partnership with the Head of Compensation & Benefits, the Head of Talent Acquisition, and HR Operations and HR/admin support colleagues at Corporate and across our EMEA offices and remote locations. Your experience working within fast-paced technology organizations will be essential as we continue to scale our UK and EMEA operations and expand our global footprint. You will have the opportunity to shape HR practices, influence culture, and make a tangible impact on the employee experience. We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled HR Business Partner to join our growing HR team. This role will be instrumental in supporting our UK/EMEA employees and leadership teams, serving as a trusted adviser on all people matters while ensuring we maintain a compliant, consistent, and people-centered approach to HR delivery.  The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, partnering closely with business leaders to drive people strategies aligned with Azul's objectives. With a strong focus on employee relations, employment law compliance, benefits management, organizational effectiveness, and colleague wellbeing, you will act as a key HR contact for the UK and EMEA, working collaboratively with our global HR and business operations teams to deliver excellence.  You will report to the Head of Global HR and work in close partnership with the Head of Compensation & Benefits, the Head of Talent Acquisition, and HR Operations and HR/admin support colleagues at Corporate and across our EMEA offices and remote locations. Your experience working within fast-paced technology organizations will be essential as we continue to scale our UK and EMEA operations and expand our global footprint. You will have the opportunity to shape HR practices, influence culture, and make a tangible impact on the employee experience.  What You'll Do (aka Responsibilities)

Business Partnering & Advisory

Act as the primary point of contact for UK/EMEA managers and employees, providing strategic and operational HR guidance

Build strong, trusted relationships with leadership to drive people-related strategies aligned to business objectives

Partner with the Head of Global HR and global HR team to shape HR strategy and support UK/EMEA-specific projects and initiatives

Collaborate closely with the Head of Compensation & Benefits and Head of Talent Acquisition on UK/EMEA programs and initiatives

Work closely with HR Operations and admin support teams in the Corporate and UK/EMEA offices to ensure consistent service delivery and knowledge sharing

Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to inform inclusive, evidence-based business decisions

Leverage AI-enabled HR tools (for example, analytics, drafting and workflow tools) in a thoughtful, ethical way to improve insight, efficiency and employee experience, while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.

Employee Relations, Legal Compliance & Change

Lead on complex employee relations and similar staff matters, including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, leave management, redundancy, restructuring, harassment, and discrimination cases

Lead management and HR colleagues through redundancy consultations and complex restructures, ensuring fair, transparent and compassionate consultation processes, as appropriate to each assigned jurisdiction.

Manage and advise on TUPE and other transfers, working closely with leaders to ensure a positive experience for colleagues

Provide guidance on the engagement and management of contractors, including assessing employment status and UK IR35 implications (and similar regulatory implications elsewhere in EMEA) in partnership with the business

Ensure full compliance with UK/EMEA employment law and evolving legislative requirements, providing proactive risk mitigation and guidance

Act as a trusted adviser for resolving issues with employees, supplier and EOR resources, ensuring fair and consistent application of company policies

Maintain comprehensive documentation to ensure audit readiness and legal compliance

Partner with internal and external legal counsel as required, while being confident to handle issues independently

Provide coaching to managers on conflict resolution, performance improvement, and corrective actions

Benefits, Wellbeing & HR Operations

Partner with the Head of Compensation & Benefits to ensure that benefits and rewards are equitable, inclusive, and aligned with Azul's values

Support timely management of new hire enrollments, coverage changes, and terminations, annual benefits renewals, vendor management, and employee communications

Partner with global HR Operations and HR/admin support teams in EMEA to align benefit offerings and processes with Azul standards

Design and support wellbeing initiatives (for example mental health, workload and work-life balance, family-friendly policies) that help colleagues to thrive

Work with Corporate HR, managers and employee populations to co-create engagement activities that help everyone feel heard, valued and included

Identify opportunities to leverage technology and improve operational efficiency

Talent Management & Organizational Development

Provide input into organizational design, workforce planning, and succession planning for UK/EMEA operations

Partner with the Head of Talent Acquisition to support inclusive recruitment and onboarding for key hires in the UK/EMEA, ensuring diverse shortlists and equitable hiring processes

Drive performance management processes that foster continuous learning, employee growth, and organizational effectiveness

Coach managers to enhance leadership capability, employee engagement, and team performance

Support initiatives to build leadership capabilities and foster a culture of continuous learning

Culture, Engagement & Inclusion

Support change management initiatives to drive business transformation while sustaining Azul's values and positive company culture

Partner with local leaders and employee populations to design engagement and recognition activities that resonate with a diverse workforce, including any locally under-represented groups

Contribute to evolving and scaling engagement as Azul grows

HR/EMEA Projects & Initiatives

Collaborate with global HR team members on initiatives that leverage and build your skills and experience

Deliver HR processes and programs including performance reviews, compensation cycles, training initiatives, and employee engagement programs

Lead and contribute to HR projects such as pay transparency, compliance audits, policy development, and modernization

What You'll Bring (aka Qualifications & Experience)

CIPD Level 7 qualification (or working towards) or equivalent experience demonstrating expert-level HR knowledge and practice and a demonstrated commitment to continual learning and professional development; must also have experience and demonstrated expert-level HR knowledge and practice in other jurisdictions across EMEA

Demonstrable experience as a senior HR generalist, with deep and up-to-date expertise in employee relations, benefits, and UK employment law gained over a sustained period in a similar role; demonstrable experience of a similar nature in one or more EMEA jurisdictions

Proven track record in HR business partnering, ideally within a technology, software, or professional services environment

Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations cases and advising confidently on legal and compliance issues

Practical experience of leading or supporting contractor engagement and IR35 (and similar EMEA) assessments, TUPE transfers, redundancy consultations and complex restructures

Experience in supporting organizational change, integrations, or M&A activities is highly desirable

Advanced coaching, consulting, relationship-building, and influencing skills with the ability to challenge constructively at all levels

Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with an inclusive style that helps every voice to be heard

Comfortable using AI-enabled tools in an HR context (for example, analytics, content drafting and automation), with good judgement about when and how to use them.

Curious, open to learning and able to critically evaluate AI outputs rather than accepting them at face value.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, balancing strategic priorities with hands-on delivery

Proactive, with the ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively. Brings a strong tolerance for ambiguity, able to identify determinate and indeterminate variables to chart a path and move forward when not all key factors are known.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to work with data and metrics to evaluate HR program effectiveness

A strategic mindset paired with a hands-on, tactical approach to solving HR challenges

Comfortable working across geographies and time zones as part of a global HR team

Ability to travel within the UK and EMEA and occasionally intercontinentally, if required

Why Join Azul?

Be a key HR partner for the UK/EMEA, with direct impact on shaping employee experience and driving business success

Work with a small, collaborative HR team that works hard together to ensure HR drives Azul's success

Help to shape and deliver wellbeing, engagement and inclusion initiatives that make Azul a place where people want to join and stay

Expand current exposure to international HR practices, working as part of a global HR team across multiple geographies

Opportunity to operate with autonomy and influence while being part of a supportive HR leadership network

Work for a company trusted by 36% of the Fortune 100, at the forefront of Java and JVM technology

Be part of building world-class HR practices that align with business objectives, culture, and values

Join a company where both strategic thinking and rolling up your sleeves to get things done are valued equally

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