At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR operations, ensuring a people-focused approach throughout the employee lifecycle.
- Company: Join a dynamic company that values its employees and promotes a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, sick pay, enhanced maternity leave, and generous staff discounts.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a vibrant environment with a focus on employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's careers while developing your HR expertise.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in HR, strong knowledge of UK employment law, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced HR Manager who can deliver consistent, legally sound, and people-centred HR operations across the full employee lifecycle, working closely with the Head of HR to translate people strategy into everyday practice.
Acting as the first point of contact for employees and line managers, you will ensure the business runs compliantly, efficiently, and with care — freeing the Head of HR to focus on strategic priorities while maintaining full confidence that day-to-day HR is in safe hands.
- Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Administration
- Collaborate with department heads and the Head of HR to draft job descriptions, post listings, screen CVs, and coordinate the interview pipeline in line with the agreed recruitment strategy
- Manage the recruitment inbox and Linked In company page, ensuring a professional and responsive candidate experience
- Support the Head of HR on senior and specialist hiring as required
- Onboarding & Induction
- Coordinate the end-to-end onboarding and induction schedule for all new starters, including equipment setup, system access, and first-day logistics
- Deliver the company induction programme, ensuring new starters are welcomed, informed, and set up for success from day one
- Conduct early probation check-ins and flag any concerns to the Head of HR in a timely manner
- Guarantee that every new starter receives their Written Statement of Employment on or before their first day, in line with legal requirements
- Offboarding & Exit Management
- Coordinate the full offboarding process for all leavers including resignation acknowledgement, leaver documentation, and systems access removal
- Conduct exit interviews, calculate final holiday pay entitlements, and issue factual references within agreed timeframes
- Collate and report exit interview findings to the Head of HR to inform retention strategy and people analytics
- Employee Relations & Case Management
- Lead formal HR processes including disciplinary meetings, grievance hearings, and capability procedures, ensuring full compliance with the ACAS Code of Practice at every stage
- Author and maintain detailed records throughout ER cases including investigation notes, minutes, and outcome letters, ensuring a clear and defensible paper trail within the six-month employment tribunal window
- Act as the first point of contact for HR queries from employees and line managers, escalating complex, sensitive, or senior matters to the Head of HR promptly
- Coach and support mid-level managers on performance management and early-stage conflict resolution, reducing escalation risk and building management confidence across the business
- Legal Compliance & Policy
- Conduct, log, and track mandatory Home Office Right to Work checks for all incoming employees, ensuring full compliance and zero exposure to illegal working penalties
- Enforce UK GDPR compliance across all employee files, medical records, and applicant tracking systems
- Maintain and update the Employee Handbook annually, ensuring all sections reflect current UK employment law and are clearly communicated to employees
- Support the Head of HR in ensuring all HR policies, contracts, and documentation remain legally compliant and consistently applied across the business
- Manage the preparation and distribution of policy updates and employee communications under the direction of the Head of HR
- HRIS Management & People Data
- Own the accuracy and integrity of all employee records within the HRIS, ensuring data is current, complete, and audit-ready at all times
- Process all employee changes including promotions, salary updates, contract amendments, and leavers accurately and within agreed timeframes
- Deliver HRIS coaching and support to all employees, ensuring the system is understood and used consistently across the business
- Produce regular and ad hoc people data reports for the Head of HR to support strategic analytics and CEO reporting
- Absence, Health & Wellbeing
- Conduct return-to-work assessments following short and long-term sickness absence, evaluating capability and coordinating reasonable adjustments in line with the Head of HR's wellbeing framework
- Administer and accurately calculate statutory day-one rights for all employees including SSP, SMP, SPP, and shared parental leave
- Monitor absence data and flag patterns or concerns to the Head of HR for strategic review
- Payroll & Reward Administration
- Collate and coordinate monthly pay adjustments for submission to the external payroll team and Finance, ensuring accuracy for monthly HMRC PAYE processing
- Act as the first point of contact for employee pension enquiries and contribution changes, liaising with the pension provider as required
- Support the Head of HR during the annual compensation benchmarking and review process through data collation and letter preparation
Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proven experience of at least five years in a generalist HR Manager or Senior HR Advisor role
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law including the ACAS Code of Practice, right to work legislation, GDPR, and statutory entitlements
- Experience leading formal ER processes end-to-end including disciplinaries, grievances, and capability hearings
- Confident and professional communicator at all levels, with the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion
- High attention to detail with a track record of accurate HR administration and record-keeping
- Experience managing and maintaining an HRIS platform
- CIPD Level 5 qualified or equivalent demonstrable experience managing HR operations within a UK-based SME
Desirable
- Experience working in a 100 person business
- Ideally from a fashion/retail background
- Exposure to payroll coordination and liaison with external payroll providers
- Experience coaching or supporting line managers through people management challenges
- Company Benefits
- Competive Salary
- Company Sick Pay
- Enhanced Maternity Pay
- Long Service Recognition
- 50% Employee Staff Discount
- Please send your CV with a cover letter to
Human Resources Manager employer: Damson Madder
At Damson Madder, we pride ourselves on being an innovative and dynamic employer that fosters a collaborative work culture. Our team enjoys competitive salaries, generous employee discounts, and enhanced maternity pay, alongside opportunities for professional growth in the vibrant fashion and lifestyle sector. Located in a creative hub, we encourage our employees to think outside the box and engage with industry leaders, making it an exciting place to build a meaningful career in PR and talent management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Human Resources Manager
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Damson Madder!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Damson Madder.
We think you need these skills to ace Human Resources Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Damson Madder. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Damson Madder and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Damson Madder. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Damson Madder's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Damson Madder
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Damson Madder.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Damson Madder will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Damson Madder and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
