DEI, Wellbeing & Talent Partner

Are you passionate about creating inclusive, engaging workplaces where people can thrive? We’re looking for a DEI, Wellbeing & Talent Partner to join our HR team and help drive forward our global people strategy across WHSmith’s retail businesses.

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role across three critical areas: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Talent Management & Performance, and Colleague Wellbeing. Working from our Aldgate Head Office with hybrid flexibility, you’ll be a trusted partner and advisor to leaders, HR colleagues and colleague networks.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Talent Management & Performance

• Partner with leaders to identify, develop and retain key talent across global teams.
• Support the delivery of talent frameworks including succession planning and leadership development.
• Guide the performance cycle, embedding fair and inclusive practices.
• Coach managers on performance conversations, career growth and goal setting.
• Analyse talent and performance data to highlight opportunities and risk areas.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

• Deliver our global DEI strategy, ensuring it’s embedded across the colleague lifecycle, from recruitment, development, promotion and retention.
• Support and guide colleague networks with governance, meaningful action, measurable progress and senior sponsorship.
• Track and report DEI progress, building awareness and inclusive capability through training and events.

• Analyse DEI data to review progress, highlight opportunities and risk areas.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the business to integrate DEI principles into policy, processes, and everyday ways of working.

Wellbeing & Crisis Support

• Be the first point of contact for wellbeing escalations, providing access to appropriate support.
• Partner with EAP providers, and HR teams to deliver wellbeing initiatives and crisis support.
• Drive proactive wellbeing activity, including physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing.

Strategic Collaboration

• Provide expert insight on global trends and best practice across DEI, talent and wellbeing.
• Work closely with HR Business Partners and Centres of Excellence to deliver cohesive people strategies.
• Ensure legal compliance with wellbeing and inclusion policies across regions.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in DEI, wellbeing, or talent management within a complex or global organisation.
• Strong knowledge of performance frameworks and inclusive leadership practices.
• Confident managing wellbeing or crisis cases with empathy and discretion.
• Strong facilitation, coaching and data-analysis skills.
• Comfortable engaging stakeholders at all levels with a proactive, solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Experience in retail or other fast-paced, customer-driven industries.
• Global or matrixed organisation exposure.
• CIPD qualification or relevant accreditation in wellbeing, mental health, or coaching.

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are…

• Inclusive – You champion belonging and model inclusive behaviours.
• Collaborative – You work across teams and geographies to deliver impact.
• Resilient – You stay composed through ambiguity and sensitive situations.
• Empathetic – You care deeply about people and their experiences at work.
• Insightful – You turn trends and data into meaningful, strategic action.

What Success Looks Like

• Strong internal talent pipelines and leadership succession.
• Progress against our DEI targets and improved inclusion scores.
• Increased colleague engagement in wellbeing programmes.
• Active and visible colleague networks (ERGs).
• Positive feedback from business leaders and team members.

How we reward our teams:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Hybrid working (2–3 days a week in our Aldgate office)
• Flexible Working
• 4pm Friday Finish
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday  
• Strong commitment to development and internal progression
• A culture that values wellbeing, inclusion and personal growth
• Company Pension scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Private Medical  
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance 

• Staff Discount Card for stores and online