HR Manager

The Role

The role will play a critical part in shaping the people strategy, designing and implementing HR policies and processes from the ground up, supporting career path development, increasing retention and supporting a significant hiring ramp-up. The position requires both operational excellence and the ability to operate as a true business partner to the leadership team and COO.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and Structure the HR Function
• Re-design, improve and implement the full HR framework (policies, processes, governance)
• Establish and manage the employee lifecycle (onboarding, performance management, development, offboarding)
• Harmonise the company’s HR practices, contracts and policies across the two office locations and staff
• Ensure compliance with UK employment law and regulatory requirements
• Lead Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
• Help define and execute the recruitment strategy to support rapid growth with COO
• Lead end-to-end hiring processes across all functions supporting hiring managers and managing external resources where applicable
• Proactively source and attract candidates through direct approached where possible
• Ensure a high-quality and consistent candidate experience
• Leverage external agencies selectively on a need’s basis, to complement internal delivery
• Implement HR tools and Processes
• Select and deploy key HR systems (HRIS, ATS, Payroll Interfaces if relevant)
• Structure HR data, reporting and KPIs
• Ensure scalability of processes to support future growth
• Improve operational efficiency through standardisation and automation
• Act as a Business Partner to Leadership
• Support leadership teams on organisational design and workforce planning
• Advise managers on people-related matters (performance, engagement, retention)
• Contribute to the definition of company culture and values post-merger
• Provide insights based on HR data to support decision-making
• Drive cultural and organisational integration between the two legacy entities
• Align teams, practices and ways of working where possible
• Manage change management and communication initiatives
• Ensure a smooth employee experience during the transition phase

Key Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as an HR Manager or HR Business Partner in a fast-growing or transformation environment
• Strong experience in building HR structures and processes from scratch
• Hands-on experience in high-volume recruitment environments
• Solid knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices
• Experience in M&A, post-merger integration or organisational transformation is a plus
• High adaptability and resilience
• Data-driven and structured approach to HR management
• Payroll experience (desirable)
• Travel: From North West office to East Midlands