HR Manager

We are looking for an experienced and motivated HR Manager to support a large and diverse workforce of around 600 people, including permanent colleagues and contingent staff. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with HR knowledge who is ready to step up into a more strategic, hands-on position, working closely with managers, employees, and key stakeholders to deliver effective people management practices.

You will play a vital role in supporting line managers, coaching teams, and ensuring HR processes are applied consistently and fairly across the workforce.

This is not just another HR job. It is a chance to make a real impact on both people and operations. You’ll be supporting a large and varied workforce, meaning no two days will look the same. From handling employee relations to contributing to workforce planning, your work will directly shape the employee experience and operational success.

For HR professionals with a background in administration or advisory work, this role provides the perfect platform to grow into a broader and more influential position. You will gain exposure to senior management decision-making, develop your leadership skills, and take responsibility for projects that deliver measurable outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

Employee relations and policy support

• Acting as the first point of contact for HR-related queries on site.

• Providing clear, practical guidance to managers on HR policies and procedures.

• Coaching and supporting line managers in handling employee relations matters, including performance, disciplinary, and grievance issues.

• Promoting consistent, fair, and transparent application of HR practices across all teams.

Performance management and absence support

• Guiding managers in implementing effective performance management processes, ensuring expectations are clear and underperformance is addressed appropriately.

• Overseeing absence management, including sickness absence monitoring, return-to-work interviews, and occupational health referrals where necessary.

• Analysing trends in absence and performance data to identify patterns, highlight risks, and recommend solutions.

Workforce planning and engagement

• Partnering with managers to plan workforce requirements, ensuring adequate resources are in place to meet operational demands.

• Supporting initiatives that encourage employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention.

• Helping to design and deliver onboarding processes that create a positive first impression for new joiners.

• Contributing ideas to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement.

HR data and reporting

• Producing accurate, timely reports on HR metrics such as turnover, absence, recruitment, and employee engagement.

• Using data insights to inform workforce planning and highlight areas for improvement.

• Sharing reports and recommendations with management and client stakeholders to support evidence-based decision-making.

Projects and initiatives

• Leading and supporting small-scale HR projects, designed to enhance the employee experience and improve efficiency.

• Projects may include improving processes, developing training for managers, piloting new engagement activities, or trialling digital HR tools.

• Ensuring projects are delivered to agreed timescales and demonstrate measurable value.

We’re seeking someone who is approachable, confident, and ready to take ownership of HR on site. You’ll need to be as comfortable advising managers on day-to-day issues as you are presenting workforce data to senior stakeholders.

You should bring:

• A CIPD Level 3 or 5 qualification (or currently working towards one).

• Experience in an HR role at administrative or advisory level.

• A strong understanding of HR policies, procedures, and best practice.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the workforce.

• Strong time management skills, with the ability to juggle priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• A calm, empathetic, and collaborative approach to handling sensitive situations.

• Confidence in analysing HR data and producing reports.

• A proactive, problem-solving mindset, with the ability to balance fairness and business needs.

This is an opportunity to step into a role where you can shape both people and operations. You’ll be the key HR presence on site, trusted by managers, relied on by employees, and valued by stakeholders.

If you’re looking to develop your career, build your leadership skills, and make a meaningful difference to a large and varied workforce, we’d love to hear from you.