Assistant Manager - Human Resources in Manchester

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Company: Li & Fung

Location: United Kingdom (Hybrid/Office as applicable)

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: Head of HR – UK

Company Overview

Li & Fung is a global supply chain solutions partner for brands and retailers, delivering end-to-end services across product design, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics. The company operates through an extensive network of suppliers and partners across more than 40 markets worldwide, supporting major consumer goods brands with efficient and innovative supply chain solutions.

Role Purpose

The Assistant HR Manager is responsible for delivering high-quality operational HR support across assigned business areas, ensuring consistent application of HR policies and effective management of employee relations activity. The role acts as a key link between strategic HR leadership and day-to-day HR operations, supporting managers and employees while ensuring complex or high-risk issues are escalated appropriately to the Head of HR. Focus areas for this role will be UK teams and workforce outside of London. This role will require monthly travel to sites outside of London, to Manchester and Nottingham.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Operations & Compliance
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee data within HR systems (HRIS)
  • Support payroll processes by ensuring timely and accurate employee data updates
  • Ensure compliance with employment legislation, internal policies, and audit requirements
  • Support preparation of HR reports and management information (MI)
• Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle
  • Oversee the onboarding process to ensure a consistent and positive employee experience
  • Ensure completion of all pre-employment checks including right to work, references, and contract issuance
  • Manage probation processes, ensuring timely reviews and appropriate outcomes
  • Support offboarding processes including exit administration and feedback capture
• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
  • Manage end-to-end recruitment processes for assigned roles and business areas
  • Partner with hiring managers to define role requirements, selection methods, and hiring timelines
  • Coordinate interview processes, candidate communications, and offer management
  • Maintain strong relationships with recruitment agencies where applicable
  • Ensure recruitment activity aligns with workforce planning and business priorities
• Manager Support & Advisory
  • Provide first-line HR advice and guidance to managers on policies and procedures
  • Coach managers in handling performance, conduct, and absence issues effectively
  • Support consistent application of HR frameworks across all business areas
  • Act as an escalation point for HR-related queries from the HR Generalist
• Employee Relations (ER)
  • Manage a range of employee relations cases including disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance management cases
  • Conduct workplace investigations, gather evidence, and produce clear case documentation and recommendations
  • Ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant handling of all ER matters
  • Provide guidance and coaching to line managers on ER processes and best practice
  • Escalate complex, high-risk, or precedent-setting cases to the Head of HR
• HR Projects & Initiatives
  • Support delivery of HR initiatives such as engagement, wellbeing, and diversity & inclusion programmes
  • Assist in the implementation of HR policies and process improvements
  • Contribute to organisational change projects as required
  • Support Head of HR with HR transformation or HR strategy activity

Key Skills & Competencies

• Employee Relations expertise
• Operational HR delivery
• Stakeholder influencing and coaching
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Organisation and prioritisation
• Confidentiality and professionalism

Experience & Qualifications

• Essential
  • Experience in a generalist HR role with exposure to employee relations case management
  • Experience managing recruitment processes end-to-end
  • Experience supporting managers with HR advice and guidance
  • Working knowledge of HR systems (HRIS)
  • Strong working knowledge of UK employment law
  • CIPD Level 5 qualified or working towards
• Desirable
  • Experience in supply chain, retail, logistics, or consumer goods industries
  • Experience in multi-site or complex organisational environments
  • Experience supporting organisational change or restructuring

Personal Attributes

• Commercially aware and solutions-focused
• Adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural awareness
• Commitment to building positive employee experiences

Benefits (Example)

• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Hybrid working options (3 days in office)
• Pension scheme
• Private healthcare

If this sounds like you, Apply Now!

As an equal opportunity employer, we shall consider all applicants regardless of gender, age, religion, marital status, race, sexual orientation, disability, disease, pregnancy, or trade union and/or political affiliation, and disregard all factors deemed inappropriate by local law and the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.