HR Manager in Watford

We are recruiting an experienced HR Manager to join a leading international organisation on a 14-month fixed-term contract, supporting corporate functions across the UK and EMEA. This is a highly visible role with a strong employee relations focus, combining hands-on case management with strategic business partnering and stakeholder engagement.

Client Details

Our client is a globally recognised organisation with an established international presence and ambitious growth plans across the EMEA region.

Operating within a fast-paced corporate environment, the business prides itself on its people-focused culture, collaborative leadership style and commitment to creating an engaging and inclusive workplace. Employees benefit from a flexible working environment, exposure to international projects and the opportunity to work alongside experienced HR professionals in a high-performing team.

Description

Reporting into the senior HR team, this HR Manager position will support a number of corporate functions across the UK and EMEA, acting as a trusted advisor to managers and stakeholders on a wide range of people matters.

The role has a particularly strong employee relations focus, with approximately 70% of time dedicated to advising managers and supporting complex people issues.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing expert HR advice and coaching to managers across employee relations matters.
• Managing performance, absence, disciplinary, grievance and flexible working cases from start to finish.
• Supporting managers through investigations, hearings and employee relations processes.
• Advising on organisational change initiatives, restructures and redundancies where required.
• Building strong relationships with senior leaders and influencing appropriate people decisions.
• Partnering with stakeholders on talent, performance and engagement initiatives.
• Supporting annual people processes including performance and development activities.
• Contributing to wellbeing, engagement and inclusion programmes across the business.
• Supporting employee resource groups and office engagement activities.
• Reviewing offer documentation, contracts and employee lifecycle paperwork.
• Supporting onboarding and recruitment activity alongside specialist teams.
• Participating in HR projects, process improvements and wider business initiatives.
• Supporting EMEA activity including new country set-ups and employee-related projects where required.
• This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys balancing hands-on case management with true business partnering and stakeholder engagement.

Profile

The successful candidate will be a confident HR professional with strong employee relations experience and the ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders.

You are likely to demonstrate:

• Previous experience in a HR Business Partner, Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager position.
• Strong end-to-end employee relations experience including performance, absence, disciplinary and grievance management.
• Excellent working knowledge of UK employment law.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and provide commercially balanced advice.
• Experience coaching managers through complex people situations.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced corporate environment.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience supporting HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities.
• A pragmatic and commercially minded approach to HR.
• Experience supporting restructuring, settlement agreements, redundancy programmes or EMEA populations would be advantageous but is not essential.

Job Offer

Competitive salary, negotiable depending on experience

14-month fixed-term contract.

10% retention bonus payable upon successful completion of the contract.

Hybrid working with 2-3 days per week in the office in Watford

Flexible working hours within a 35-hour working week.