HR Manager in Newquay

Location: Newquay, Cornwall

Reporting to: CEO

Direct Reports: HR Advisor

About Piran

Piran is a rapidly growing aerospace, defence and advanced engineering group specialising in the design, engineering and manufacture of advanced composite and machined components. Working with some of the world’s leading aerospace, defence and motorsport organisations, we operate in highly regulated environments where quality, delivery performance and operational excellence are critical.

We are seeking an experienced HR Manager to take ownership of the HR function and support the continued growth of the business.

The Role

This is a hands‑on operational HR role responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the employee lifecycle across the business. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the business remains compliant with employment legislation, supporting managers in making effective people decisions, reducing organisational risk and maintaining efficient HR processes. The primary purpose of the position is to ensure the HR function supports the commercial objectives of the business whilst maintaining fair, consistent and legally compliant people practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Employee Relations
  • Lead and manage disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance and capability processes.
  • Conduct and support investigations where required.
  • Provide practical and commercially focused HR advice to managers.
  • Support managers in resolving employee issues quickly, fairly and consistently.
  • Minimise employment tribunal and legal risk.
• HR Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with employment legislation and HR best practice.
  • Maintain and update employment contracts, policies and procedures.
  • Support the business with organisational changes and restructures where required.
  • Maintain accurate HR records and documentation.
  • Manage relationships with external employment law advisers when required.
• Recruitment and Onboarding
  • Manage recruitment activity across the business.
  • Support hiring managers with recruitment, interviewing and selection.
  • Ensure effective onboarding and probation management processes.
  • Assist with workforce planning and succession planning activities.
• Performance and Absence Management
  • Drive effective performance management across the business.
  • Monitor absence trends and support managers in reducing absenteeism.
  • Ensure probation reviews and performance reviews are completed effectively.
  • Support managers in managing under performance.
• HR Operations
  • Manage and develop the HR Advisor.
  • Oversee HR administration processes.
  • Support payroll processes and monthly reporting.
  • Produce HR metrics and management information as required.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in a standalone HR Manager, Senior HR Advisor or HR Business Partner role.
• Experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong employee relations experience.
• Excellent knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience managing disciplinary, grievance and absence cases.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Ability to influence and support managers at all levels.
• Commercially aware and pragmatic approach to HR.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, defence or industrial environments.
• Experience supporting a multi-site business.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification.
• Experience of organisational growth and change management.

Personal Attributes

• Pragmatic and solutions-focused.
• Commercially minded.
• Confident and resilient.
• Able to balance employee welfare with business requirements.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to make decisions and take ownership of strategy determined by SLT.

The role exists to support the business in achieving its objectives through effective people management, legal compliance and operational excellence.