HR Manager – John Lobb Northampton

For more than 150 years, John Lobb has upheld the highest standards of craftsmanship and design in the creation of hand‑made shoes and boots for men. A company of the Hermes group since 1976, the bespoke footwear is still hand‑crafted in our workshop in Paris while the ready to wear collections are manufactured in our Northampton factory. John Lobb owns a global distribution network that includes twenty stores established in eight countries and works with a highly selective network of partners and authorized retailers around the world.

About JL & Co Ltd: JL & Co Ltd oversees John Lobb’s UK & US operations, which include:

• Our historic shoemaking factory in Northampton,
• An office and warehouse located nearby,
• A Factory Shop,
• One store in London,
• And office and two stores in the USA (New York, Los Angeles).

The perimeter currently employs more than 100 employees in the UK, including 70 artisans across crafting, stitching, and cutting, and close to 15 employees in the US. This role is central to supporting our people, preserving our artisanal culture, and enabling the continued excellence of our Northampton factory.

Role Purpose: As the HR Manager, you will oversee all day‑to‑day HR operations for the Northampton site, ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and alignment with John Lobb’s culture and the Hermès Group Social Model. This generalist role combines hands on HR expertise with a strategic perspective. Working closely with the Industrial Director in Northampton and the HR Director in Paris, you will help shape and implement the HR strategy. You will supervise the Payroll Expert and collaborate regularly with our International Commercial and Finance Directors, supporting teams across the UK and the US. The role focuses on driving performance, employee wellbeing, employee relations, and skills development, with strong analytical skills and solid project management being essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• HR Strategy: Implement and monitor the HR strategy across all dimensions of the function, in line with the Social Model and values of the Hermès Group. Lead and structure change management initiatives to support organisational evolutions within the factory, retail teams, and support functions across the UK. Support managers and teams through transitions, providing clarity, communication, and tailored coaching to facilitate understanding and engagement. Actively participate in the steering of the site’s strategic projects in collaboration with the Industrial Director and HR Director.
• Recruitment & Talent Development: Guarantee the quality of the recruitment process and onboarding experience, whether for external hires or internal mobility. Ensure respectful, inclusive, and compliant hiring practices. Lead performance evaluation cycles, training plans, talent reviews (in coordination with the Global HR team), and mobility planning, and drive the associated action plans. Maintain and update job descriptions for all roles. Ensure performance reviews are completed on time and to a high standard. Support managers in drafting objectives and development plans.
• Onboarding & Probation: Prepare contracts, offers, and onboarding documentation. Coordinate onboarding plans and ensure new joiners have the necessary equipment, access and tools. Create tailored induction programmes for teams and managers. Monitor probation periods and support managers in conducting timely evaluations.
• Employee Relations: Maintain a high‑quality social climate through continuous dialogue and collaboration with employees, managers and directors. Ensure compliance and advise managers on operational HR matters, employment legislation, Health & safety, and Company policies. Manage disciplinary and grievance processes, ensuring compliance with procedures and best practice. Support performance improvement plans and absence management procedures.
• Compensation & Benefits: Oversee payroll processes for the UK and the US in collaboration with the Payroll Expert. Validate weekly, biweekly and monthly payrolls for the UK and the US. Ensure accurate use of ADP and MyClickH systems. Conduct annual reviews of salaries and compensation elements, ensuring internal and external equity, and alignment with Group policies. Monitor compliance with wage and working time regulations across the UK and the US. Provide accurate and timely HR reporting for Group (headcount, KPIs, dashboards).
• Internal Communication and D&I: Deploy John Lobb and Hermès Diversity & Inclusion, engagement surveys and internal communication initiatives at the site level. In collaboration with the Industrial Director and HR Director, propose and implement actions to strengthen and develop communication within teams. Coordinate and implement long‑term sustainability projects across the site. Participate in cross‑functional projects to enhance site organisation and culture.

Essential Skills & Experience: Proven experience as an HR Manager or Senior HR Advisor, ideally in a standalone role or SME environment. Strong employee relations expertise, including experience in unionised environments. Solid knowledge of UK employment law. Expertise in talent development, recruiting, leading change and transformation, compensation & benefits and performance management. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to influence, coach, and build trust across all levels. High attention to detail and strong organisational skills. Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Confident in advising managers at all levels. Tech‑savvy with proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Personal Attributes: Proactive, solutions‑driven, curious and pragmatic. Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality, and professionalism. Kind, effective leadership style with a focus on humility, compassion, and approachability. Team‑oriented with the ability to foster a positive working environment. Comfortable navigating a craft‑based, heritage‑driven manufacturing environment.