People Operations Lead: Systems, Payroll & Data Governance in Manchester

Are you working in People Operations or HR Operations and ready to take the next step into a broader, team-leading role? Do you enjoy improving processes, keeping things running smoothly, and making sure HR services are consistent and reliable? Are you looking for a role where you can build your experience across systems and governance in a growing, changing business?

We're looking for a People Operations Lead to support the delivery of People services across our UK & Ireland consulting business (c.650 employees). You'll lead a small team responsible for HR administration and payroll, helping ensure our processes run efficiently, accurately, and in line with our policies. This is a hands-on role where you'll balance day-to-day operational oversight with opportunities to improve how we work. You'll help strengthen processes, support system improvements, and ensure our People data is accurate and useful for reporting and decision-making.

Working closely with the wider People team, you'll contribute to ongoing improvements in how we deliver services, from enhancing HR systems and self-service tools to making it easier for employees and managers to access the information they need.

• Experience working within a People Operations / HR Operations environment, with some exposure to leading or supporting others
• A good understanding of HR processes, systems, and data, with an interest in improving how things work
• Broad HR knowledge, including an awareness of employment law and operational governance
• Experience supporting payroll processes or working closely with payroll teams
• A structured, organised approach with a focus on accuracy and consistency
• Confidence working with data (e.g. Excel) and producing reports or insights
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams
• A proactive mindset, with a willingness to learn and develop in the role

At APEM, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We're proud of the culture we've built one based on integrity, quality, collaboration and fairness. As part of a growing global group, this role offers the opportunity to develop your experience while contributing to how People services evolve across the business.

Alternatively, if you are an experienced People Operations Lead or Manager looking to work with a smaller team and perhaps are interested in slightly reduced hours, then this is something we could accommodate.

Next steps: We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. If you don't meet every requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply we're open to supporting development and shaping the role around the right person. If you're interested in joining a growing business where you can develop your career in People Operations, we'd love to hear from you. Apply via our website with your CV, we review applications promptly and will respond to everyone.

About Us: The APEM Group is a global environmental consultancy, we work with a range of clients including large corporations and governments to help them understand and solve a wide variety of environmental projects in the UK and globally. Our successful pioneering work has enabled us to grow and combine forces with other businesses who share our ethos and integrity. At our core, our people are working towards the protection of the environment across the globe.