At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR strategy and support a thriving culture in a fast-paced eCommerce environment.
- Company: Join Zendbox.io, a dynamic tech-led eCommerce fulfilment business near Maidstone.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, 33 days holiday, career development, and paid birthday leave.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career advancement to Head of People & Culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people and culture while driving growth in an innovative company.
- Qualifications: Proven HR experience in SMEs, strong decision-making, and coaching skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 € per year.
Zendbox.io is a fast-growing, tech-led eCommerce fulfilment and distribution business based near Maidstone in Kent. We help ambitious brands scale by delivering smart, reliable warehousing and logistics solutions.
About The Role
We are looking for a confident, hands-on People & Culture lead to develop and execute our people strategy at our Kent HQ near Maidstone. This is a true blend of strategic and operational HR in a fast-paced distribution environment, overseeing the full employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to performance, wellbeing, absence management and retention.
You will need to hit the ground running: setting direction quickly, making clear decisions, taking ownership of absence management (including use of the Bradford Factor) and giving managers the support and challenge they need to deliver. You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure our people practices directly support business objectives, while creating a culture that enables our teams to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- HR Leadership (Operational Focus)
- Oversee day to day HR activities to ensure effective people processes across the business.
- Support managers with organisational changes, staffing needs and people related decisions.
- Contribute to initiatives that improve culture, engagement and team performance.
- Employee Relations (ER) & Absence Management
- Lead on all ER matters including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances and policy updates.
- Design and own a robust absence management framework across the business.
- Use tools such as the Bradford Factor to monitor sickness and identify trends.
- Support and coach line managers to confidently manage attendance, conduct return-to-work meetings and follow through on formal processes where needed.
- Act as a trusted advisor to managers on complex people issues.
- Board Reporting & Metrics
- Provide regular reports on key HR metrics including turnover, absence, engagement, ER activity, recruitment and DEI.
- Use data to demonstrate impact, support planning and drive accountability across the business.
- Recruitment & Onboarding
- Oversee end-to-end recruitment and employer branding strategy.
- Work at pace to attract and secure the right talent for a fast-moving distribution environment.
- Streamline and enhance onboarding processes for a seamless employee experience.
- Compliance
- Ensure HR policies, processes and practices are legally compliant and up to date.
- Keep the business informed and prepared for changes in employment law and HR best practice.
- Oversee right-to-work checks, data protection compliance (GDPR), and all statutory reporting.
- Manager Development & Training
- Develop and deliver training and support to build confident, capable line managers.
- Equip managers to handle ER, performance and absence matters consistently and effectively.
- Promote values-based leadership across the business.
- Performance & Development
- Design and manage effective performance management frameworks.
- Foster a culture of regular feedback, growth and accountability.
- Wellbeing & Benefits
- Lead wellbeing and mental health initiatives.
- Manage and optimise employee benefits to support attraction and retention.
Requirements
- Proven experience as an HR Manager or senior HR generalist in an SME environment (essential).
- Strong generalist background with hands-on expertise across ER, absence management, recruitment, L&D and engagement.
- Confident and decisive, with the ability to hit the ground running and make clear, pragmatic decisions.
- Commercially minded, with the ability to align people strategy with business needs.
- Skilled in coaching, influencing and supporting leaders at all levels.
- A practical, solutions-focused approach and ability to work autonomously.
- Familiarity with distribution, logistics, warehousing or other fast-paced operational environments (experience with eCommerce fulfilment businesses like Zendbox.io is highly beneficial).
- Comfortable using HR data and metrics (including Bradford Factor or similar tools) to drive action.
Benefits
- Hybrid (4 days on site, 1 day WFH).
- Career development opportunities.
- 33 day holiday allowance (inc bank holidays).
- On site free parking.
- Paid birthday leave.
People & Culture Lead — HR for Growth employer: Zendbox | eCommerce Fulfilment Specialist
Zendbox.io is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to thrive in a fast-paced eCommerce fulfilment environment. With a strong focus on career development, generous benefits including a 33-day holiday allowance and paid birthday leave, and a hybrid working model, we empower our team to achieve their professional goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Join us at our Kent HQ and be part of a company that values innovation, collaboration, and employee wellbeing.
Contact Detail:
Zendbox | eCommerce Fulfilment Specialist Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Culture Lead — HR for Growth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Zendbox.io, they’re all about supporting ambitious brands, so think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Be ready to share examples of how you've contributed to a positive workplace culture in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common HR questions. Focus on articulating your hands-on experience in areas like employee relations and absence management, as these are key for the People & Culture Lead role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Zendbox.io and contributing to their growth.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Culture Lead — HR for Growth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of People & Culture Lead. Highlight your experience in HR, especially in areas like employee relations and absence management, to show us you’re the perfect fit for our fast-paced environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about HR and how your skills align with our mission at Zendbox.io. Don’t forget to mention any relevant experience in eCommerce or logistics!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving employee engagement or streamlining recruitment processes, we want to see how you’ve made a difference in previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zendbox | eCommerce Fulfilment Specialist
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your HR knowledge, especially around employee relations and absence management. Familiarise yourself with tools like the Bradford Factor, as you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of how to use data to drive decisions.
✨Show Your Strategic Side
Prepare examples of how you've aligned HR strategies with business objectives in the past. Think about specific initiatives you've led that improved culture or engagement, and be ready to discuss how you can bring that experience to Zendbox.io.
✨Be Ready for Real Scenarios
Expect situational questions that test your problem-solving skills. Prepare to discuss how you'd handle complex people issues or support managers through organisational changes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Cultural Fit is Key
Zendbox.io is all about creating a thriving culture, so think about how you can contribute to that. Be ready to share your thoughts on fostering a positive work environment and how you’ve done this in previous roles. Show them you're not just about processes, but also about people!
