People and Culture Manager (Maternity Cover) in Croydon

At Tropic, people are at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re looking for a People & Culture Manager (Maternity Cover) to help us create a workplace where our colleagues feel supported, empowered and genuinely excited to be part of the journey. This is a role with real impact. From shaping meaningful colleague experiences to supporting managers through important moments, you’ll be right at the centre of what makes Tropic such a special place to work. Whether it’s championing wellbeing, guiding colleague relations, or bringing our culture to life through everyday interactions and standout initiatives – you’ll play a key role in ensuring our HQ remains a place where people can truly thrive.

Reporting into the Head of People & Culture, you’ll lead a small but mighty team of two People & Culture Coordinators and a People & Culture Specialist, creating a supportive, high‑performing environment where everyone can grow, develop and do their very best work. This is a varied, fast‑paced role where no two days look the same – balancing operational excellence with people‑first thinking. If you love building strong relationships, solving problems and making a genuine difference to how people feel at work, you’ll feel right at home here!

• People & Culture Operations
  • Own the day‑to‑day running of People & Culture operations, ensuring a seamless and positive colleague experience.
  • Lead the team across all core responsibilities, including payroll, maternity processes, inductions, colleague relations, recruitment, welfare and training.
  • Confidently use and oversee our HR system (Employment Hero), ensuring data accuracy, compliance and effective reporting (including ATS management).
  • Act as a trusted go‑to for HR queries, supporting colleagues and managers across the business.
  • Drive engagement initiatives and embed actions, including keeping our quarterly Great Place to Work surveys on track.
  • Champion and oversee the use of wellbeing tools and platforms, including our EAP.
• Leadership & Strategic Support
  • Act as a key support to the Head of People & Culture, stepping in as a trusted second‑in‑command across the function.
  • Act as an escalation point for complex people matters, supporting confident and consistent decision‑making.
  • Support on a wide range of People & Culture priorities, balancing day‑to‑day delivery with broader, strategic initiatives.
  • Work closely with core members of the P&C team to plan and deliver culture, wellbeing and recognition initiatives throughout the year.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, coach and develop a team of 2x P&C Coordinators and 1x P&C Specialist.
  • Oversee the team’s day‑to‑day responsibilities while also driving your own higher‑level, strategic priorities.
  • Create a supportive, high‑performing environment where the team feels empowered, confident and motivated.
  • Act as a go‑to for questions, guidance and problem‑solving, helping bring out the best in each team member.
  • Conduct regular monthly 1:1s, performance reviews and development conversations, alongside consistent day‑to‑day support.
  • Use Asana to manage and track team tasks and projects, ensuring visibility, accountability and alignment with wider business goals.
• Payroll & Reward
  • Oversee and review monthly payroll, working closely with the P&C Coordinator and Finance team to ensure accurate and timely delivery.
  • Own the end‑to‑end payroll process, ensuring smooth and compliant execution.
  • Partner with our in‑house payroll team and oversee all related administration.
  • Manage the administration for salary updates, bonuses and annual pay reviews.
  • Maintain clear and accurate payroll tracking across systems and Asana.
• Colleague Relations
  • Act as a trusted advisor to managers on all aspects of colleague relations.
  • Demonstrate strong confidence in supporting and guiding managers and colleagues through a wide range of ER matters.
  • Lead and chair investigations, disciplinary processes and hearings with confidence and care.
  • Manage ER cases end‑to‑end using the case tracker, ensuring consistency, fairness and thorough documentation.
  • Liaise with external employment law advisors, ensuring all cases align with best practice and legislation.
  • Support and upskill the P&C team on ER cases, building their confidence and capability over time.
  • Partner with external HR consultants to ensure policies, processes and the company handbook remain up to date and compliant.
• Recruitment
  • Lead hiring activity when needed, managing roles end‑to‑end to ensure a smooth and positive candidate experience.
  • Screen CVs, coordinate and conduct interviews.
  • Partner with hiring managers to understand team needs.
  • Provide oversight and support on recruitment administration and documentation created by the team.
• Wellbeing & Colleague Experience
  • Champion wellbeing across HQ, leading on welfare cases, return‑to‑work processes and flexible working requests.
  • Manage wellbeing communications and initiatives across platforms (e.g. MS Teams, intranet, EAP).
  • Lead the planning and delivery of quarterly wellbeing initiatives that bring our team together.
• Projects, Policy & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead the evolution of HR policies and the annual handbook review.
  • Maintain clear, accurate and up‑to‑date processes and work instructions.
  • Contribute to People & Culture projects that enhance how we work and grow.
• Healthier, Happier HQ
  • Bring our culture to life through wellbeing initiatives, celebrations and team moments.
  • Support company‑wide events and internal engagement.
  • Contribute to reward, recognition and benefits that make Tropic a great place to work.
  • Lead and deliver training for colleagues and managers, ensuring alignment with best practice (e.g. compliance training such as sexual harassment awareness).

What We’re Looking For

• 6–8 years’ experience in a People & Culture / HR role, with at least 2 years’ experience managing and developing a team.
• Strong knowledge of colleague relation and UK employment law, with confidence handling a range of ER cases end‑to‑end.
• A natural people person, approachable, empathetic and able to build trust quickly across all levels of the business.
• Highly organised and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• A genuine passion for creating a high‑performing, inclusive and people‑first culture.
• The ability to remain professional, objective and neutral, especially when handling sensitive situations.
• Confident advising and influencing managers, providing clear, practical guidance.
• Experience working with HR systems and payroll processes (Employment Hero experience is a plus!).
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset, with the confidence to take ownership and drive things forward.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys being hands‑on.

What We Offer

• Employment Type: Full‑time, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, on a 12–13 month fixed‑term contract (maternity cover).
• Location: Tropic HQ is a short walk from Beddington Lane Tram stop, with direct links to East Croydon and Wimbledon.
• Hybrid Working: Blend of office and remote working with a minimum of 3 days in the office.
• Salary: Competitive.
• Benefits: Hybrid working, up to 33 days’ holiday, EAP through the Wisdom App, generous product allowance, 50% discount for family and friends, access to retailer discounts, free breakfast bar, dog‑friendly HQ with a chill zone and pool table, on‑site parking, regular social events, and plenty of well‑being treats throughout the year.
• Start Date: 6th July 2026.

Tropic's Commitment to Equal Opportunities

Our team is as diverse as it is talented because at Tropic, we go the extra mile to cultivate a culture of respect and belonging. We value every candidate, respect protected characteristics and never discriminate. We also provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities at every stage of the hiring process. Ultimately, the most important thing for us is hiring the best person for the job, so we focus on skills, experience and qualifications to ensure our process is fair and our candidates always have a great experience.