HR Team Leader in Manchester

We are seeking an experienced and people-focused HR Team Leader to join our organisation. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a dedicated HR team and play a key role in supporting the business through both periods of growth and change. This is a dual‑role position, blending leadership with active involvement in day‑to‑day HR service delivery. As HR Team Leader, you will provide guidance across a broad range of HR activities, ensuring high‑quality support to stakeholders while promoting best practice and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the HR People Operations team, driving performance, engagement, and capability development.
• Operate in a dual‑role position, balancing team leadership with hands‑on delivery of HR operational activities.
• Actively manage and work within the People Operations Shared Services queue, directly handling and resolving requests alongside the team.
• Allocate and prioritise incoming work, assigning cases across the team while also taking ownership of complex or high‑priority queries.
• Ensure timely triage, accurate responses, and high‑quality service delivery across all employee lifecycle activities.
• Allocate resources effectively across business‑as‑usual activities and HR projects, adjusting priorities in response to changing business needs.
• Ensure optimal utilisation of team capacity while maintaining service quality and meeting deadlines.
• Lead and support the delivery of HR projects, including system implementations, process improvements, and organisational change initiatives.
• Assign and coordinate project tasks, tracking progress against milestones and ensuring successful delivery.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across HR, Shared Services, and Payroll to provide seamless, end‑to‑end employee lifecycle support.
• Act as an escalation point for complex or sensitive queries, ensuring appropriate resolution.
• Drive consistency, accuracy, and compliance across all HR operations and communications.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and process optimisation.
• Provide coaching, development, and pastoral support to team members, fostering a high‑performing and supportive environment.
• Deputise for the HR Operations Director as required.

Requirements

• Proven experience in an HR Operations, People Operations, or Shared Services environment, with leadership or supervisory responsibility.
• Comfortable operating in a dual role, combining team leadership with hands‑on delivery of HR casework.
• Demonstrated experience working within a Shared Services or case management/queue environment, with the ability to prioritise and manage a high volume of requests.
• Strong people management skills, with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop a high‑performing team.
• Ability to balance competing priorities, effectively managing both day‑to‑day operational delivery and project work.
• Experience of leading or supporting HR projects, such as system implementations, process improvements, or organisational change initiatives.
• Confident handling complex or sensitive employee matters, acting as an escalation point where required.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to allocate work effectively while also contributing directly to delivery.
• A collaborative and approachable style, with excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with experience identifying and implementing process efficiencies.
• High attention to detail, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance in HR processes and communications.
• Solid understanding of the employee lifecycle and HR best practice.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience is desirable.

Benefits

People are our greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family‑friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. Work‑life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for us. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part‑time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

Our Culture

Our values are built on a strong foundation of safety, integrity, and respect for every individual. People are at the heart of our mission, and we believe in supporting one another through a culture of care and collaboration. We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. Supporting mental wellbeing and fostering a sense of connection are essential to how we work. When we embrace different perspectives and work together, we become more innovative, more agile, and more successful.

EEO Statement

We are a Disability Confident employer, we interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role. If you require reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact the team. We comply with disability, protected veteran, and labour laws. We will never ask for a placement fee or other payment to secure employment.