What you'll bring to the team
We're looking for an experienced People Business Partner to join our People team and serve as a trusted advisor to attraction leaders. In this role, you'll partner closely with leaders across the business to drive workforce planning, leadership development, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and talent initiatives that support operational success.
This is not a traditional HR administration role. We're seeking a strategic HR professional who can build credibility with senior leaders, influence decision-making, develop leadership capability, and translate business priorities into meaningful people strategies.
To be successful in this role, you'll bring demonstrated experience partnering directly with business leaders to influence workforce planning, talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and people decisions that drive business results.
As a People Business Partner, you'll play a key role in delivering the people agenda while helping leaders create a high-performing, inclusive, and engaging workplace culture.
Qualifications & Experience
What You'll Do
Strategic Business Partnership
- Partner with attraction leaders to understand business priorities and deliver people strategies that support operational and commercial objectives.
- Provide proactive guidance on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, talent management, and employee engagement.
- Use workforce data and people insights to identify trends, influence decision-making, and drive business performance.
- Collaborate with Senior People Partners and Centers of Excellence to ensure alignment with broader Merlin people initiatives and priorities.
Leadership Development & Coaching
- Serve as a trusted coach and advisor to people leaders across the attraction.
- Build leadership capability by empowering managers to confidently lead their teams and own people-related decisions.
- Support leaders in driving performance, accountability, development, and engagement across their teams.
- Help foster a culture of continuous feedback, growth, and high performance.
Organizational Effectiveness & Change
- Lead and support people-related change initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and employee experience.
- Drive adoption of new ways of working and support leaders through periods of change.
- Partner with leaders to identify opportunities to improve team structures, processes, and workforce capability.
- Maintain a visible presence across the attraction, building strong relationships and understanding operational needs firsthand.
Talent, Succession & Workforce Planning
- Facilitate talent reviews and succession planning activities to ensure a strong pipeline of future leaders.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition to support workforce planning and recruitment strategies.
- Support employee development and internal mobility opportunities across the business.
- Contribute to compensation, benefits, and recognition initiatives while supporting the implementation of annual pay review activities.
Employee Engagement & Culture
- Support leaders in delivering engagement initiatives and action plans informed by employee feedback.
- Champion programs that strengthen employee experience, retention, and team morale.
- Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture where employees can thrive.
- Support local and community engagement initiatives that reflect Merlin's values.
Employee Relations & Compliance
- Provide guidance and support on employee relations matters, including complex cases when required.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, employment legislation, and HR best practices.
- Partner with leaders to proactively address workplace concerns and mitigate risk.
- Support Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives that create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to succeed.
What We're Looking For
Required Experience
- Proven experience operating as a strategic HR Business Partner, People Business Partner, HR Manager, or Senior HR Generalist, partnering directly with leaders to influence business, workforce, and talent decisions.
- Experience coaching, influencing, and developing leaders at multiple levels of an organization.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing workforce planning or talent strategies aligned to business objectives.
- Strong employee relations experience and working knowledge of U.S. employment law.
- Experience leading or supporting organizational change initiatives.
- Experience working within a complex, matrixed, multi-site, or large-scale organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
- Experience supporting hospitality, entertainment, attractions, retail, tourism, or other operationally focused environments. Union experience a plus!
- Experience using workforce data and insights to inform business decisions.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strategic mindset with the ability to connect people initiatives to business outcomes.
- Strong business acumen and commercial awareness.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
- Confidence influencing and challenging leaders at all levels.
- Strong facilitation, coaching, and communication skills.
- Ability to navigate complex employee and organizational challenges with practical, business-focused solutions.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.
Benefits
Benefits
- Excellent Health Care Options: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Paid Time Off (PTO).
- Merlin Magic Pass: Free entry for friends and family to our amazing parks & attractions.
- Recognition Programs and Rewards.401(k) Program: Save for the future with company matching contributions.
- Tuition Reimbursement Programs: Get support for further education and career growth.
- Numerous Learning and Advancement Opportunities: Grow your skills and advance your career with us!
Pay RangeCompensation between USD $85,000.00/Hr.-USD $90,000.00/Hr.
