HR Manager in Oxford

Proforest is a mission-driven organisation with a 25+ year track record of supporting the transition to sustainable production and sourcing of agricultural and forest commodities. We are a not-for-profit group with a global presence across Latin America, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, and work with governments, the private sector and civil society to deliver positive outcomes for people, nature and climate in the places agricultural commodities are produced. Our HR function provides essential support to colleagues across the organisation, ensuring our people have the guidance, systems and support they need to thrive. We are looking for an experienced HR professional to lead HR activities across Europe, partnering closely with line managers, senior management team and employees to deliver a high-quality, people-focused HR service.

This is a varied role that combines hands-on HR delivery with leadership of key people processes across our European offices. Working closely with managers across Europe (primarily UK and Netherlands), you will provide expert HR guidance, build management capability and help ensure a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading employee relations matters, including wellbeing, absence, performance, grievance and disciplinary cases
• Supporting and coaching line managers to build confidence and capability in people management
• Coordinating and leading annual review and talent review processes
• Supporting line managers and senior management team with performance management and employee development planning
• Leading recruitment activities and helping attract talented people to Proforest
• Developing, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures alongside the Operations Manager
• Championing employee wellbeing initiatives and supporting engagement activities
• Working closely with the Office Manager to ensure smooth HR administration and payroll processes
• Collaborating with colleagues globally on shared HR initiatives and projects
• Manage the Office Manager who takes care of our HR administration

About you

You are an experienced HR professional who enjoys working closely with people and managers to solve problems, provide practical advice and improve the employee experience. You are confident handling a wide range of HR matters, comfortable managing competing priorities and able to build trusted relationships across a diverse international organisation.

We are looking for someone with:

• Significant HR generalist experience
• Employee relations experience, including performance management, absence, grievance and disciplinary cases
• Experience supporting and coaching managers
• Experience leading recruitment and selection processes
• Experience developing or improving HR policies and processes
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law
• Experience working with colleagues from different cultures and locations
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable:

• Experience of working with the Netherlands or France
• CIPD Level 7 qualified
• Experience working within the sector and/or within a consultancy

You'll be someone who is:

• Resilient and calm under pressure
• Pragmatic, hands-on and solutions-focused
• Comfortable working through ambiguity
• An excellent communicator who can build strong relationships
• Trustworthy, discreet and professional
• Motivated by Proforest's mission and values

Why should you work for us?

You’ll be part of a global organisation with a shared vision, working in offices across 8 countries with staff from more than 17 countries, speaking more than 40 languages.

What else does Proforest offer?

• 25 days plus public holidays (with an extra 2 days the following year should you take your well-earned holiday within the year)
• We contribute to your pension (up to 8%)
• We support learning and development with a dedicated team to help you achieve your goals; we provide access to training for knowledge and competency development
• Life insurance and income protection insurance
• We organize regular in-person team gatherings, regional and international knowledge exchanges and social events

Key information

• Location: Oxford, UK
• Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 depending on skills and experience
• Closing date: 10th of August
• Working hours: Full time (part time with a minimum of 0.8 FTE will be considered)
• Hybrid working: Proforest operates on a hybrid basis. The role requires office attendance twice a week. We encourage staff to attend the office regularly to maximise interactions with colleagues and encourage collaboration, but we also appreciate individual circumstances and preferences. We’d expect more office attendance at the start of employment to enable a smooth induction.

We are committed to supporting diversity throughout Proforest globally, ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and therefore welcome applications from all.