HR Manager HR Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for an HR Manager to join our award-winning Architectural Practice based in either Bath or London. Our HR Manager will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the day-to-day People operations of our Practice run smoothly across all our locations. In this hands-on role, you will take ownership of the entire employee lifecycle including recruitment and employee relations, acting as point of contact for any people related queries and provide first line strategic support and advice to our Managing Partners and Partnership. You will keep abreast of employment law changes and keep our People policies and processes up to date ensuring compliance and best practice. You will also provide line manager support to our People Advisor and Payroll Manager. Please note, our People Advisor will be on maternity leave from January 2025 so we will be expecting you to support in picking up with any administrative cover in their absence. Beyond these day-to-day responsibilities, you'll have the opportunity to enhance employee engagement, cultivate a positive company culture, and play an active role in our Practice Group forums including our EDI and Employee Forum.

About you

We are looking for a passionate and self-driven HR professional who thrives on working independently and will take initiative with confidence. You will bring your experience in confidently managing all areas of the People function while eagerly embracing opportunities to lead additional projects that boost employee engagement and drive continuous change. Interested in learning more? We would love to hear from you!

Areas of Responsibility

• Provide first line strategic support and advice to the Managing Partners/Partnership Board to keep them abreast of both internal and external HR requirements and changes in circumstances.
• Chair and facilitate the People Group forum, consisting of the People team and representative Partners from each studio.
• Participate in Practice Groups Forums as required including our Mental Health and Wellbeing group, EDI Forum and Employee Forum.
• Provide key support to Partners and Managers and facilitate and participate in procedures relating to disciplinaries, grievances, redundancies, and employee relations matters in line with legislation and best practice, and to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Manage and be responsible for the People Advisor and Payroll Manager, providing guidance, support and strategic direction on Contractual Employment items, L&D, Recruitment and Payroll.
• Develop and monitor Practice wide HR policies and procedures, ensuring these are up to date in line with practice policy changes, best practice, and legislation.
• Manage and advise on matters relating to sickness absence, maternity and paternity and parental leave.
• Liaise with insurance broker and provider regarding the employee Income Protection Insurance and other related benefits proposals.
• Design and create employee engagement initiatives and support change management processes, facilitating whole practice people initiatives.
• Use HRIS to gather and analyse people data and insights – for regular reporting and salary and annual salary and benefit benchmarking surveys.
• With Managing Partners, review and set yearly People and Employment budgets and manage those budgets through the year.
• Manage the entire recruitment process; create Job Descriptions, advertise, screen applications and conducting first stage screening interviews.
• Managing the full onboarding process including drafting of all HR and employment related letters and contracts of employment and adding them to our HRIS and ensure a smooth and positive onboarding.
• Oversee the annual review process and system so that it supports the needs of employees and Partners and provides a fair and consistent approach to employee development.
• Through working with our teams, promote a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

What you will bring to the role:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Excellent generalist HR experience including employee relations, learning and development, benefits, change management and recruitment.
• Proven experience as an HR Manager or equivalent level role.
• A key understanding of HR laws and regulations with the ability to apply them appropriately through policies and procedures.
• Passion for EDI and supporting employee’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Ideally experienced in a standalone role with the ability to work independently and proactively.
• Ability to deal with matters sensitively and confidently, displaying integrity and sincerity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to form effective working relationships based on trust at all levels.
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office and HR Systems (current HRIS – Cascade).

Hours: 9.00am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday (with an unpaid hour for lunch). Based in either Bath or London. Office based initially to support with handover/onboarding with a move to hybrid working a minimum 3 days a week in the office.

We are a progressive and ethical architectural practice. We design with empathy for the human condition, with science for sustainable outcomes, and with art for crafting beautiful places. The range of our architectural work is extremely broad and includes housing, universities, creative reuse and schools. With over 40 years of practice, we now have four offices in Bath, London, Manchester and Belfast with around 109 employees and 25 partners. We remain committed to the social and cultural values which underpin our design approach. Our studios are an open and social environment and inspiring places to work, with breaktimes focused on growing strong social bonds. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, where professional and personal development is encouraged. FCBStudios is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community.