Lead HR Business Partner (Operations Lead) in Manchester

• Role Title: Lead HR Business Partner (Operations Lead)
• Job Location
• Manchester, office in the heart of the Northern Quarter
• 3-days per week in office (Monday to Wednesday), 2-days from home
• Reports to: HR Director
• About Grayce

We are change and transformation partners for the world's most ambitious organisations.

For over a decade, we've delivered measurable impact by identifying, developing, and deploying high-performing talent across the UK and beyond – turning potential into performance for the businesses that need it most.

Joining Grayce means joining a company built on a deeper purpose: championing emerging talent and giving people the platform to build careers, not just complete contracts.

Grayce is an exciting period of growth and transformation, which means you'll have the chance to help shape what's next, as well as lead the initiatives that define who we are – from ED&I and Sustainability to CSR.

Role Purpose

The HR team operates an established HR partnership model already embedded across the business.

We are now looking for a Lead HR Business Partner to play a pivotal role in leading HR operations, supporting senior stakeholders, and developing our HR offering as we scale.

This is a broad, high-impact role combining strategic input with day-to-day operational delivery.

You will work closely with the HR Director, shaping priorities while also ensuring the smooth running of core HR processes.

The role comes with autonomy to streamline and use creativity to implement improvements and further embed technology and AI within our everyday practices.

We’re looking for someone who is comfortable operating at multiple levels — from influencing leaders and driving improvements, to rolling up their sleeves and ensuring HR outputs.

It is important candidates are comfortable completing administrative tasks as well as strategic.

This role is critical in supporting our continued growth, ensuring scalable and efficient HR operations while maintaining a commercially focused HR partnership model.

The ideal candidate will be keen to make an impact and regularly provide solutions with a long-term perspective.

We expect this role to evolve in line with business growth.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
• Line manage and develop members of the HR team, including an HRBP and Vetting & Onboarding Manager
• Lead the day‑to‑day delivery of HR operations, ensuring a consistent and high‑quality approach
• Build capability within the team and drive a strong, solutions‑focused culture
• HR Operations & Delivery
• Ownership of employee relations matters and HR operations
• Oversee the smooth operation of the full employee lifecycle
• Lead HR operations meetings and ensure actions are followed through
• Lead on data analysis and data sharing within the team and across the business
• Manage people risk and mitigate risks to the business
• Employee Relations & Risk
• Responsible for an allocation of partnerships and provide support in all aspects of employee relations
• Handle complex employment relations matters and act as the escalation point
• Govern people risk ensuring our people are supported and our business is protected
• Ensure policies and practices remain compliant with current and upcoming legislation
• Projects & Continuous Improvement
• Lead key HR initiatives, including performance cycles, compliance training, and cultural developments
• Partner with the HR Director on strategic priorities, including workforce planning, organisational readiness and Health & Safety practices
• Use data and insights to inform decisions and influence stakeholders
• Drive the use or HR technology and AI to streamline processes and enhance delivery
• Administration
• Support office management
• HR inbox coordination

About you

We are seeking an established HRBP with strong leadership qualities and fluency in all aspects of employee relations.

You thrive in fast‑paced environments and are equally comfortable advising senior stakeholders as you are delivering operational work to a high standard.

You’ll bring

• Strong experience across complex ER matters
• Confidence to challenge, influence and guide
• A pragmatic, solutions‑focused mindset
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• A genuine interest in owning and improving HR operations through data, systems and technology

Qualifications and experience

• Proven experience as an HRBP (or equivalent) in a fast‑paced organisation
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience handling complex ER cases end‑to‑end
• Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering HR projects
• Previous line management or team leadership experience
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery
• Strong data literacy and confidence using HR systems and tools
• Experience of Sage People and Salesforce advantageous
• Genuinely influential role with exposure to senior leadership
• Opportunity to shape and improve HR operations in a growing business
• A culture that values innovation, autonomy and continuous improvement
• The chance to work at the forefront of HR technology and AI adoption
• 25 days annual leave, increasing annually up to 30 days maximum
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Online wellbeing centre offering health and wellbeing hints, facts, tips and exercises
• Cash Plan – financial cover for optical, dental, therapies and more
• 3% Employer pension contributions
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