De Beers People Advisor

About De Beers

Founded in 1888, De Beers is a leading international diamond group whose expertise spans diamond discovery, sourcing, grading and luxury jewellery. With deep roots in southern Africa and a global presence, the group brings together scientific knowledge, technical precision and creative craftsmanship. As an employer, De Beers offers career paths across mining, engineering, gemmology, jewellery design, retail and corporate functions. Its multidisciplinary environment connects the origins of natural diamonds with their transformation into exceptional creations. Professionals join a business where heritage meets innovation, and where provenance, responsible practices and evolving consumer expectations are central to the future of the diamond industry.

Role & Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for managers and employees, advising on People policies, procedures and processes, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, absence management and employee relations.
• Provide responsive, professional, consistent and customer-focused support to People leaders, managers and employees on People-related queries.
• Guide managers through routine employee relations matters, using sound judgement and escalating complex, sensitive or high-risk cases to the Senior People Partner as appropriate.
• Partner with the People Operations team to identify trends and provide insights on absence, employee engagement, workforce data and employee lifecycle activity.
• Identify opportunities to simplify working practices and enhance service delivery, contributing to continuous improvement of People processes, policies and employee experience.
• Support talent, succession and performance management activities across the business.
• Coordinate annual talent and performance processes, track actions and maintain records.
• Identify development needs through talent reviews, employee feedback and business requirements.
• Support learning and development programmes, including professional skills, diversity and career development initiatives.
• Contribute to employee engagement, career growth and talent retention initiatives.
• Maintain organisational structures, update job descriptions and coordinate organisational design changes agreed by business leaders and senior People team members.
• Guide managers and employees through organisational changes, including People processes, timelines and policy requirements, escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Support change management implementation by communicating changes, coordinating actions and helping ensure a positive employee experience during transitions.
• Contribute as a member of the B&DD People Team, supporting peers, stakeholders and senior management.
• Review, maintain and improve People processes and procedures to align with employment legislation, company policy and best practice.
• Gather and share stakeholder feedback on processes and ways of working, identifying service and process improvement opportunities.
• Support inclusion and diversity activities, maintain records and prepare People-related data and reports as required.
• Support the Global Lead People Partner for De Beers London and help the DBL Leadership Team align strategic objectives with People initiatives.
• Provide expert People guidance and employee relations support to managers and employees, translating People policies and frameworks into practical, consistent and compliant solutions that support business performance and a positive employee experience.
• Partner with west-region retail store managers.

Qualifications

• Experience as an HR Advisor, or experience as a Senior HR Assistant providing first-line support and advice, ideally in a luxury and/or retail setting.
• A CIPD or other HR qualification is preferred.
• Ability to analyse information, identify issues and support resolution of People-related challenges.
• Good judgement and ownership of assigned responsibilities, with the ability to seek support when required.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver work to agreed deadlines.
• Curiosity and a continuous-improvement mindset, with a willingness to suggest improvements to processes and working practices.
• Proven knowledge of HR systems and databases.
• Understanding of luxury-category industry trends, market dynamics and commerciality.
• Knowledge of current employment legislation and HR best practices.
• Customer-service focus and high accountability.
• Initiative in continuously improving processes and working practices.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to tactfully challenge the status quo.
• Ability to build strong, credible relationships.
• Working knowledge of employee relations processes and ability to guide routine People matters, escalating complex issues as appropriate.
• Commitment to supporting others' development and contributing to a positive, collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Proactive, organised approach, with a focus on high-quality People support and positive stakeholder relationships.
• Effectiveness in a fast-paced environment, adapting to changing priorities and responding positively to challenges.
• Commitment to continuous improvement in HR practices and outcomes.
• Strong commitment to ethical conduct and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and methodologies, with an emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness.

Skills

Education

CIPD or another HR qualification is preferred.

Benefits

27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell leave; pension with a minimum 4% employee contribution and 11% company contribution; company-funded core Private Medical Insurance through Bupa, with options to upgrade or extend cover; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme; access to a Mental Health First Aider network and wellbeing resources; flexible benefits including holiday trading, travel insurance, dental cover, critical illness protection and retail vouchers; opportunities to participate in Anglo American share plans, including Free Shares, SIP and SAYE; employee discounts and onsite benefits where available, such as gym and restaurant facilities. Benefits are subject to scheme terms and eligibility.

Culture

De Beers’ workplace culture combines the technical expertise of the diamond industry with the craftsmanship and client focus of luxury jewellery, bringing together diverse disciplines across an international business. Its professional environment emphasises collaboration, safety and responsible sourcing, with a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of natural diamonds from origin to finished creation.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.