Human Resources Manager in Kent, Maidstone

Salary: £40,000 – £55,000

Location: Maidstone, Kent (Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office)

Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Are you an experienced HR professional looking for the opportunity to take ownership of a people function and make a genuine impact? We’re partnering with a growing and successful SME to recruit an HR Manager to support a workforce of approximately 45 employees. This is a standalone role offering broad exposure across the full employee lifecycle, working closely with the senior leadership team to deliver both operational HR excellence and people-focused initiatives.

Reporting directly to the CFO, you will act as the trusted HR partner for managers and employees across the business, providing practical HR support while helping to shape and develop people processes as the organisation continues to grow.

The Role

This opportunity is well suited to an experienced HR Advisor looking to step into a broader management role, or an established HR Manager who enjoys working within a hands-on SME environment. You’ll have full responsibility for day-to-day HR operations while also contributing to wider people projects and business initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Employee Lifecycle & HR Operations
  • Manage the full employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding
  • Maintain employee records and HR systems
  • Prepare contracts, letters and employment documentation
  • Coordinate monthly payroll inputs and benefits administration
• Employee Relations
  • Act as the first point of contact for employee relations matters
  • Advise managers on performance, absence, disciplinary and grievance issues
  • Ensure cases are managed fairly, consistently and in line with employment legislation
  • Maintain accurate records and documentation
• Policy & Compliance
  • Review and maintain HR policies and procedures
  • Monitor employment law developments and recommend changes where required
  • Support managers in the consistent application of policies and processes
• Recruitment & Development
  • Coordinate recruitment activity across the business
  • Manage relationships with external recruitment partners
  • Support hiring managers throughout the recruitment process
  • Organise training and development initiatives
• Reporting & Projects
  • Produce HR reports and people metrics for the leadership team
  • Support organisational development and people-related projects
  • Contribute to employee engagement and continuous improvement initiatives

About You

We’re looking for a proactive and confident HR professional who enjoys working independently and building strong relationships across a business. You’ll ideally have:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience)
• Previous experience in a generalist HR role at Advisor level or above
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience managing employee relations cases independently
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• A pragmatic, hands-on approach
• Experience within an SME or growing business environment would be advantageous

What’s on Offer

• Salary of £40,000 – £55,000 depending on experience
• Hybrid working model with two office days per week
• Significant ownership and autonomy within the role
• Exposure to senior leadership and decision-making
• Opportunity to shape and develop the HR function
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Clear opportunity for professional growth as the business continues to evolve

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a visible impact, influence people strategy and develop your career within a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you.