HR Manager - UK/EU

30 Hours Per Week Monday - Friday 
Minimum 2 days per week ​on site (Alconbury Weald) 
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer the HR Manager will consistently deliver a pro-active and professional HR service to the business through developing effective partnerships with employees at all levels. You will deliver high-quality professional advice and guidance to senior managers, advising on various topics, including workforce planning, performance management, recruitment and retention and dealing with difficult situations.
You will also lead on updating HR policies, contribute to broader project and policy initiatives, and continuously review and enhance the HR service. This role suits an individual who can deliver an HR service of the highest quality, an eye for detail, has initiative and strong leadership qualities to develop and improve the team.  
Job responsibilities

• Consult with hiring managers to understand business and resourcing needs, overseeing recruitment, selection, onboarding and offboarding processes. 
• Champion employee engagement, health and wellbeing initiatives, regularly reviewing employee feedback and implementing continuous improvement programmes. 
• Ensure the Company's terms and conditions, policies and procedures remain up to date and compliant with applicable legislation and HR best practice. 
• Utilise external employment law and HR advisory services to ensure legal compliance and mitigate employment-related risks. 
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee personnel records within HR, payroll, systems and personnel files. 
• Prepare, distribute and track employment documentation, including contracts, offer letters, policy updates and employment-related correspondence. 
• Ensure all required employee acknowledgements are obtained, recorded and securely retained. 
• Maintain HR documentation within appropriate systems and filing locations, ensuring compliance with data protection, confidentiality and document retention requirements. 
• Assign and monitor mandatory and role-specific training, maintaining accurate training records and reporting on completion rates where required. 
• Process and ensure employee absences, including holiday, sickness, family leave and other authorised leave are accurately recorded. 
• Respond to employee and manager queries relating to HR administration, documentation, policies, leave and training. 
• Manage employee performance, conduct, capability and attendance matters in line with Company policies and employment legislation. 
• Support managers in conducting performance reviews, identifying development needs and implementing appropriate training and development initiatives. 
• Lead or oversee investigations and complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, redundancy and TUPE processes. 
• Develop, review and benchmark pay structures, reward programmes and employee benefits to support attraction, retention and employee engagement. 
• Provide expert HR advice and guidance to managers on employee relations matters and the consistent application of Company policies and procedures. 
• Manage and coordinate the monthly UK and EU payroll process, ensuring all payroll changes, employee data, statutory payments, deductions, benefits and absence-related adjustments are accurately submitted, validated and communicated to payroll providers within agreed deadlines, ensuring compliance with local legislation and maintaining accurate payroll records.
• Produce and analyse HR metrics and management information, providing insights and recommendations to support business decisions. 
• Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, acquisitions, workforce planning and change management projects. 
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, employment legislation and internal governance requirements across all HR activities.
• Manage US HR colleague to promote consistency of HR frameworks, policies and people practices across the business. 
• Act as a professional role model, promoting the Company's values, culture and expected behaviours. 
• Attend management meetings and provide both strategic and operational HR input to support business objectives and decision-making.

Benefits
Essential 

• Proven experience in a stand-alone generalist HR role, managing the full employee lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management and offboarding. 
• Substantial HR experience, including responsibility for advising managers on employee relations matters.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience working at HR Advisor/Manager level). CIPD Level 7 desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence management processes.
• Experience supporting managers with performance management, employee development and organisational change initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build credible relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and confidential information.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive employee matters.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret HR data and make recommendations.
• Experience developing, implementing and maintaining HR policies, procedures and documentation.
• Experience administering HR systems and maintaining accurate employee records in line with GDPR requirements.
• Experience processing payroll changes and leading monthly payroll activities.
• Demonstrated commitment to employee engagement, wellbeing and continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Experience using HRIS and payroll systems such as HiBob, ADP or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting international workforces and partnering with stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience implementing HR projects, initiatives or system improvements.