Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR strategy, performance management, and employee engagement in a vibrant, fast-paced environment.
- Company: Dynamic and entrepreneurial organisation with a strong culture and growth ambitions.
- Benefits: Casual dress, company events, free food, private medical insurance, and profit sharing.
- Why this job: Shape the employee experience and drive a high-performance culture in a thriving business.
- Qualifications: Significant HR leadership experience and strong UK employment law knowledge required.
- Other info: Fully onsite role with excellent career development opportunities.
An excellent opportunity has now arisen for an experienced Head of HR (People & Culture) to join a high-energy, fast-growing and vibrant business where culture, pace and people genuinely matter. This is a hands-on, visible role for an HR leader who enjoys being close to the business — building structure without bureaucracy, coaching leaders, and translating ambitious business goals into clear, practical people plans. You’ll report directly into the COO and line manage a People & Culture Coordinator.
If you thrive in an energetic environment, enjoy rolling your sleeves up, and are passionate about creating an engaging, high-performance and inclusive workplace, this role could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Who are we? We are recruiting on behalf of a dynamic and entrepreneurial organisation operating in a fast-paced environment. The business has a strong personality, a vibrant culture and big growth ambitions — and is looking for a senior HR professional to help shape the employee experience as it scales.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events and social culture
- Canteen and discounted/free food
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free on-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Profit sharing
- High-energy, people-centric working environment
Duties of the Head of HR (People & Culture):
- People strategy & leadership
- Own and deliver the People Strategy aligned to business growth plans
- Set HR priorities, annual roadmap, budget and measurable success metrics
- Provide pragmatic, data-led guidance on organisational design and change
- Performance management
- Design and embed a clear performance framework (goals, reviews, reporting)
- Coach managers on feedback, performance improvement and difficult conversations
- Own performance improvement processes with consistency and fairness
- Compensation, payroll & benefits
- Partner with Finance to ensure accurate payroll and pay changes
- Own salary bands, benchmarking, pay reviews and promotions
- Ensure benefits are fit for purpose and well communicated
- Learning & development
- Create and deliver a practical L&D plan across the business
- Support progression pathways and capability building
- Measure training impact and continuously improve learning offerings
- Policy, HR systems & documentation
- Maintain employee handbook, contracts and HR documentation
- Ensure policies are legally compliant and consistently applied
- Own HR systems, records management and GDPR compliance
- Recruitment & onboarding
- Lead workforce planning with department heads
- Improve the end-to-end hiring and interview process
- Deliver a high-quality onboarding experience for new starters
- Employee relations
- Lead ER cases with pace, empathy and legal rigour
- Reduce ER risk through early intervention and manager coaching
- Manage external HR or legal support where required
- Culture & employee experience
- Act as custodian of company culture, values and behaviours
- Run engagement surveys, focus groups and action planning
- Drive initiatives that improve belonging, communication and retention
- Workforce planning & health & safety
- Build workforce and succession plans
- Use people data to inform decisions
- Ensure health & safety compliance and continuous improvement
What we would like from you:
Essential:
- Significant HR leadership experience in a fast-paced or scaling business
- Strong UK employment law knowledge and confident ER case management
- Experience owning performance cycles, compensation frameworks and talent processes
- Proven ability to influence leaders and coach managers
- Strong operational discipline and attention to detail
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with Finance, Ops and leadership teams
Qualifications:
- CIPD Level 5 or 7 (or equivalent experience)
Additional information:
- This role is fully onsite
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
If you are interested in this role, please apply below with your most recent CV.
HR Manager in Milton Keynes employer: Osborne Appointments
Contact Detail:
Osborne Appointments Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Manager in Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before your interview. Research their values and recent initiatives, so you can show how you align with their vision. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn to get insider info about the role and the team. This can give you valuable insights that you can use to tailor your approach during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare some thoughtful questions for your interviewers. Ask about their people strategy or how they measure employee engagement. This shows you're genuinely interested in contributing to their culture and growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can keep you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great way to show your professionalism.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Manager in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your HR leadership experience and any relevant achievements that align with our vibrant culture and fast-paced environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about creating an engaging workplace. Share specific examples of how you've built people strategies or improved employee experiences in previous roles.
Showcase Your People Skills: In your application, emphasise your ability to coach leaders and manage performance cycles. We want to see how you’ve influenced others and driven change in a hands-on way, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Osborne Appointments
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Head of HR role. Brush up on your knowledge of UK employment law, performance management frameworks, and how to create a people strategy that aligns with business goals. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the role but genuinely passionate about it.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your HR leadership experience, especially in fast-paced environments. Think about times when you’ve successfully influenced leaders or managed complex employee relations cases. These stories will help you stand out and prove your capability.
✨Cultural Fit is Key
This company values culture and engagement, so be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their vibrant environment. Share your ideas on improving employee experience and fostering inclusivity. Showing that you understand and appreciate their culture will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about their current HR challenges, how they measure success in this role, or what initiatives they have in place to enhance employee engagement. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
