HR Manager in London

The HR Manager is responsible for the provision of a comprehensive, high quality HR service to all the Collection's employees (circa 140 staff) and is supported by a HR Assistant. The HR Manager oversees the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, and offboarding, ensuring all practices are compliant and aligned with the Collections values. The postholder will work closely with the Collections Senior Management Team to develop a strong people strategy aligning with the Collections strategic objectives. This role will report to the Director of Finance and Resources.

Role Description

• Ensure the provision of a consistent and comprehensive HR service to SMT, managers and staff in respect of all aspects of employment advice.
• Develop and maintain all HR systems and processes to ensure compliance with current and emerging employment law.
• Ensure that all recruitment is carried out in a fair, open manner and in accordance with the Collection's recruitment procedures; liaising with relevant line managers and ensuring deadlines are met in a timely manner for all recruitment campaigns.
• Maintain and develop the Collection's induction processes, with support from the HR Assistant.
• Provide comprehensive advice to SMT and line managers on all matters relating to disciplinary, grievance and/or performance issues, and attending formal meetings as and when required, with the support of the Collections External Legal Advisors.
• Play a leading role in any proposed organisational change, consulting with SMT, managers, staff and Trade Unions as appropriate and ensuring effective channels of communication are maintained at all times.
• Act as secretary to the regular Management/Trade Union meetings including preparing agendas and taking and circulating notes of meetings and acting on follow up actions.
• Keeping up to date with developments in Employment Law legislation and case law, ensuring policies, practices and procedures are updated or introduced as required, including communicating changes to Trade Unions, managers and staff.
• Ensure that the Collection maintains a range of on-line training and development modules covering both mandatory and developmental training, in liaison with the external provider (Skills Gate).
• To develop, implement and maintain a robust Learning and Development strategy in order to enable strong succession planning within the Collection.
• Manage the HR budget and ensure all relevant invoices for HR services are paid on time.
• Promote Equality and Diversity within the Collection, ensuring compliance with Employment legislation and lead on staff health and well-being policies including providing confidential advice and support to managers and staff when needed.
• Attend regular all staff meetings and represent the Collection at relevant external events.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team throughout the upcoming masterplan providing strategic guidance on workforce planning.
• Oversee the HR Assistant's management of day-to-day employee record keeping, including holidays, sickness absence and HR files and the provision of relevant statistical information.

Person Specification

• CIPD qualified (Chartered level) or demonstratable equivalent experience.
• Extensive generalist operational HR experience, covering the complete range of the employee life cycle.
• Experience of managing staff with the ability to support, develop and lead them in a motivational and professional manner.
• Evidence of supporting senior managers with the ability to quickly establish credibility and respect.
• Experience in the development, documentation and implementation of new policies, and HR procedures, processes and systems.
• Experience of working with senior managers and Trade Unions when leading and implementing organisational change and change management.
• Ability to interpret employment legislation to ensure organisational compliance with all aspects of the law and that policy and procedures reflect best practice.
• Knowledge of core Civil Service terms and conditions of service.
• Well-developed communication skills with the ability to manage and explain all aspects of the HR function to a diverse audience.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders.

How to Apply

Please complete the Application Form, and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, following the links provided on our website. Please note the equal opportunities form is used for monitoring purposes only and does not form part of the selection process. Both forms should be emailed by midnight 08/02/2026. Please note late applications or applications via a CV will not be considered.

Interviews for the role will take place week commencing 16/02/2026. Candidates who have been shortlisted for interview will be contacted after the closing date. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it will not be possible to contact or give feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted for interview.

Start date: As soon as possible. Appointment to the role is subject to a satisfactory Basic Disclosure check. The Wallace Collection is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.