At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives, manage recruitment, and enhance employee engagement in a friendly environment.
- Company: Established manufacturing business with a loyal workforce and a down-to-earth culture.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, annual bonus, enhanced sick pay, and a supportive pension scheme.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth in a traditional yet evolving workplace.
- Why this job: Shape the future of HR in a dynamic role with autonomy and real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong HR experience, confidence in advising, and ability to modernise practices.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
As the standalone HR Manager, you’ll be joining a long‑established manufacturing business with a loyal, longstanding workforce. This is a business that values stability, communication, and someone who can genuinely make an impact. You’ll be the go‑to expert for all things HR, owning the HR agenda. This is a role for someone confident, experienced, and ready to bring structure, ideas, and modern HR practice into the organisation. The culture is friendly and down‑to‑earth. The successful candidate will need to be approachable, comfortable pushing back where required, and able to build relationships with staff at all levels.
Responsibilities:
- Generalist HR leadership — own the full HR remit across the employee lifecycle.
- Recruitment onboarding — manage hiring.
- Employee relations — handle day‑to‑day ER, including sickness, disciplinaries, conduct, and informal issues.
- Policy development — create and implement policies from scratch.
- Training development — support capability building across factory and office teams.
- Employee benefits engagement — review, improve and embed benefits and engagement initiatives.
- HR systems processes — bring structure, consistency and best practice to HR operations.
This is a blank canvas role that offers an exciting opportunity to work autonomously, shaping the function, introducing structure, and modernising HR for the future.
What You’ll Need to Succeed:
- Strong experience as a standalone HR Manager or senior HR generalist.
- Confidence working autonomously and advising staff and managers.
- Thick‑skinned, pragmatic, and comfortable in a traditional factory environment.
- Ability to influence, challenge, and modernise ways of working.
- Experience in manufacturing or similar blue‑collar environments is highly desirable.
- Someone who brings ideas, solutions, and a proactive approach.
Benefits:
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
- Death in service – 4× salary + bonus.
- Annual bonus – currently £1,450 (performance based).
- Pension (age‑banded): offering between 5 – 8%.
- Christmas vouchers – starting at £80 and increasing with service.
- Enhanced full sick pay.
- 35‑hour week.
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
HR Manager (Stand-alone) employer: Hays
Join a long-established manufacturing business that prioritises stability and communication, offering a friendly and down-to-earth work culture. As the standalone HR Manager, you will have the unique opportunity to shape the HR function, implement modern practices, and make a significant impact on employee engagement and development. With competitive benefits including 25 days holiday, an annual bonus, and enhanced sick pay, this role is perfect for those looking to grow in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Manager (Stand-alone)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company culture and think about how your experience aligns with their values. Be ready to share examples of how you've made an impact in previous roles, especially in a standalone capacity.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your personality! In a friendly and down-to-earth environment, being approachable is key. Don’t be afraid to let your character shine through during interviews – it’s all about building those relationships.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Manager (Stand-alone)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the HR Manager role. Highlight your experience in standalone HR positions and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to influence and modernise HR practices.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed employee relations or developed policies in previous roles, and don’t forget to show your personality!
Showcase Your Autonomy:Since this is a standalone position, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to work independently. Include instances where you’ve taken the lead on HR initiatives or made impactful decisions without much oversight.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your HR knowledge, especially in areas like employee relations and policy development. Be ready to discuss how you've handled similar situations in the past and how you can bring modern practices into the organisation.
✨Show Your People Skills
As a standalone HR Manager, you'll need to build relationships at all levels. Prepare examples of how you've successfully influenced and engaged with staff in previous roles. Being approachable and relatable is key!
✨Be Ready to Challenge the Norm
This role requires someone who can push back when necessary. Think about times you've had to challenge existing processes or suggest improvements. Show that you're not afraid to bring new ideas to the table.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with the company's values and culture. Since they value stability and communication, be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to maintaining this environment while also modernising HR practices.
