HR Business Partner – EMEA

Role Overview

• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Requirements

• 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

Benefits

• 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