Human Resources Manager in Edinburgh

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is the trade association for the Scotch Whisky industry. We support and represent our members across a wide range of priorities, including industry promotion, regulatory and legal matters, sustainability, international market access and protecting the Scotch Whisky category worldwide. We are recruiting a Human Resources Manager to provide practical, responsive and high-quality HR support across the Association.

Reporting to the COO, this role supports managers and employees across the employment lifecycle and helps ensure our HR policies, processes and people practices remain effective, up to date and fit for purpose. This is a hands‑on role in a small, collaborative organisation, suited to someone with existing professional HR experience who can combine strong day‑to‑day delivery with a practical and proactive approach. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process.

Role purpose

The Human Resources Manager is responsible for delivering a responsive, practical and high-quality HR service across the Association. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the role supports managers and employees across the employment lifecycle, helps ensure HR policies and processes remain compliant and fit for purpose, and contributes to the ongoing development of people practices, systems and employee support in line with organisational needs.

Key responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day HR support across the employment lifecycle, including employee queries, contractual matters, recruitment, onboarding and offboarding activity.
• Prepare and manage core HR documentation and correspondence, ensuring accuracy, consistency and professionalism.
• Support and coordinate recruitment, onboarding and offboarding activity, helping ensure a professional, efficient and well‑organised candidate and employee experience.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR systems, ensuring information is managed appropriately and in line with legal and organisational requirements.
• Support the effective administration and coordination of routine people processes, escalating more complex or sensitive matters as appropriate.

Advice and support to managers and employees

• Act as a visible and approachable first point of contact for day‑to‑day HR matters, offering practical guidance and signposting to relevant policies, procedures and resources.
• Support managers in applying people processes consistently and appropriately across the organisation.
• Build constructive working relationships that contribute to a trusted, practical and professional HR service.

Continuous improvement and employee‑facing resources

• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of HR processes and ways of working, helping support an effective employee and manager experience.
• Support the development and maintenance of accessible, accurate and useful employee‑facing HR information and resources, including SharePoint content.
• Contribute to HR‑related communications, briefings, workshops and wider people‑focused activity as required.

Person specification

Essential

• CIPD Level 3 qualification or above, working towards a CIPD qualification, or demonstrable professional experience in a generalist HR or HR support role with responsibility across core employment processes.
• Proven professional experience in a generalist HR role, with responsibility for supporting a range of HR activity across the employment lifecycle.
• Experience of providing practical HR advice and support to managers and employees on routine people matters.
• Good understanding of core UK employment law and HR good practice, with the ability to identify when policies, processes or documentation may need to be updated.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships and communicate confidently with colleagues at different levels.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage work accurately and consistently.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, professionalism and sound judgement.

Desirable

• Experience maintaining employee‑facing HR resources, such as intranet or SharePoint content.
• Experience of supporting training, briefings, workshops or employee engagement activity.

Behaviours and ways of working

• Accountability: Takes ownership of assigned work, follows through on actions, and maintains high standards of accuracy, responsiveness and professionalism.
• Respect: Builds positive working relationships, communicates clearly and sensitively, and handles people matters with discretion and care.
• Curiosity: Looks for ways to improve processes, guidance and employee experience, and stays up to date with relevant developments in HR practice.

General

Carry out any other reasonable duties consistent with the scope and purpose of the role.