HR & Governance Manager

Hybrid working with an expectation of around 2 days per week in the office (typically Tuesdays and Thursdays, although flexibility is available). Full-time, starting ASAP. Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Orbis UK to recruit for their next HR and Governance Manager. This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly experienced HR professional to join Orbis UK on a 6-month fixed-term contract, helping the organisation strengthen and embed excellent people practices while delivering key HR priorities.

This role is critical to supporting a highly performing group of staff and trustees as they seek to transform lives through the prevention and treatment of blindness. The role sits within the Business Support Team, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation and will be crucial in creating a revised HR strategy and ensuring that the organisation’s compliance with key statutory and regulatory requirements are maintained at all times.

The successful postholder will work collaboratively with the Director of Finance and Operations to meet these objectives, but also will have a central role in identifying opportunities for growth within the HR and Governance function to ensure that good practice, wellbeing and compliance work hand in hand with one another and is embedded within the ethos of the organisation for the benefit of its staff and, ultimately, beneficiaries.

The Opportunity

• Completing and progressing key HR priorities across the organisation.
• Reviewing, updating and embedding the employee handbook.
• Support and advise the Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver a strong HR strategy embedding best practice while continuing to build a positive, inclusive and high performing culture strongly aligned with Orbis’ values.
• Support the Director of Finance and Operations to provide high-quality, responsive and effective support to the Orbis Board and its sub-committees.
• Supporting the continued development of an effective in-house HR function.
• Provide a responsive problem solving and supportive HR service to managers and colleagues across the organisation.
• Overseeing governance administration where required.
• Line manage and work with the Business Support Administrator.
• Working in close partnership with the Director of Finance and Operations to deliver both strategic and operational HR priorities.

About You

We're looking for someone who can hit the ground running from day one. You'll be a knowledgeable and hands-on HR professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to deliver operationally. You'll be comfortable managing multiple priorities and bringing structure, pace and confidence to a busy environment.

You'll have:

• Significant experience supporting and developing a HR strategy and/or working at an EA level working with senior executives across different sectors.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience leading organisational people projects and delivering tangible outcomes.
• Experience supporting organisational culture and employee engagement initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
• A pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach.
• Experience managing or mentoring team members.
• Knowledge of the NGO sector.

We are open to applications from across disciplines and expertise if you can demonstrate your aptitude for the role with a hunger to learn, or for someone who is keen to translate their HR experience into this broad and interesting role.

Interview Process

Interviews will be informal, conversational and focused on understanding your HR experience and approach. Interviews are expected to last approximately 30-45 minutes and, where possible, will be conducted in person.

Charity People is a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.