About the Role
In this 12-month, fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity leave, the HR Manager will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the HR department, providing leadership, guidance, and support to the HR team, and acting as a business partner to senior managers.
Reporting directly to the HR Director, this role plays a critical part in delivering the people strategy, supporting internal communications, embedding culture and values, and managing key HR functions including employee relations, recruitment, learning and development, and data reporting.
This role also involves line management of the HR team, project delivery, compliance monitoring, and supporting wider business initiatives across health & safety, wellbeing, and engagement.
Key Responsibilities
HR Operations & Advisory
* Provide operational support and escalation point for all day-to-day HR matters including:
* Payroll administration
* Pension and benefits (Tastecard, Medicash, MyGym, PMI)
* Absence management and trend analysis
* Maternity, paternity, and family leave guidance
* Recruitment coordination and interview support (especially for senior roles)
* Employee relations (disciplinary, grievance, capability)
* Supporting flexible working requests and approvals
HR Team Leadership
* Line management of HR team members:
* Conduct 1:1s, team meetings, and training sessions
* Lead cross-skilling, performance feedback, and development planning
* Maintain and update the HR team skills matrix
* Drive HR team initiatives (e.g. Stop/Start/Continue, 4 Pillars activities)
* Ensure reception cover and responsibilities are fulfilled as required
Business Partnering & Strategic Support
* Partner with senior managers to provide HR guidance and support delivery of business objectives
* Contribute to leadership development and talent planning
* Lead/support restructuring activity and consultation activity
* Provide coaching and support to managers on performance and development
* Assist with salary benchmarking and pay review processes
Learning & Development
* Oversee L&D activities with support from the team:
* Deliver internal training (e.g. compliance, Health & Safety (HAS))
* Manage the apprenticeship levy and support management training, e.g. Sandler programme
* Monitor L&D budget and activity uptake
Culture, Engagement & Internal Communications
* Act as a culture ambassador and lead employee values activity
* Chair Employee Voice (EV) group and support wider engagement initiatives
* Work with Internal Communications & Marketing Manager to develop and deliver communications strategy/content
* Drive wellbeing initiatives (EAP, MHFA, Occupational Health)
Systems & Reporting
* Oversee data quality within HRIS and TA platforms, ensuring regular cleansing and updates
* Produce HR metrics, KPIs and reports
* Manage annual HR calendar tasks, including holiday rollovers, system resets, and audit preparation
Policy & Compliance
* Maintain and update the Employee Handbook and HR policies in line with legislation
* Stay current with employment law updates and lead on implementing necessary changes
* Support HR Director with EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) initiatives
Budget & Financial Oversight
* Manage HR and HAS cost centres. Monitor overtime and L&D expenditure and maintain budget control and ensure optimal budget utilisation
Health & Safety
* Oversee health surveillance, occupational health, and HAS projects (e.g. asbestos, COSHH)
* Encourage best practice and compliance with working time directive, lone working, PPE, etc.
* Collaborate with HR team and site managers on monthly HAS production meetings
Project Management
* Lead or support key HR projects, such as but not limited to; ATS implementation, Leadership development programme design (on-going) and general process improvements (e.g. digital files, absence tracking systems)
Your Qualifications & Experience
* Proven HR leadership experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
* Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices
* Demonstrated experience in team management and development
* Strong business partnering experience with senior stakeholders
* High level of IT literacy (Excel, Word, HRIS systems)
* Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills
* Proven track record of managing ER cases, recruitment, and L&D
Desirable:
* Experience with health & safety collaboration or wellbeing programmes
* Familiarity with HR systems/ATS implementation
* Knowledge of EDI and employee engagement strategies
* Exposure to apprenticeship levy management and internal training delivery
Values & Behaviours
We Pass It On With Pride
* Lead by example to inspire confidence and pride within the HR team, setting high standards in service, integrity, and professionalism.
* Mentor and develop others, sharing knowledge and experience to build capability and confidence across the team and wider business.
* Act as a culture ambassador, promoting our values in everything you do and helping others to understand, embrace, and pass them on.
We Look Ahead
* Shape and drive our people strategy by partnering with senior leaders to deliver forward thinking HR solutions that support business growth, capability, and culture.
* Lead key HR projects and improvements that modernize our people practices, streamline processes, and enhance employee engagement across the organisation.
* Champion a culture of continuous development by embedding learning opportunities, mentoring the HR team & strengthening leadership capability at all levels.
We Roll up our Sleeves
* Take ownership of challenges, stepping in with a practical mindset to find solutions and keep momentum across people projects and daily operations.
* Lead from the front, working alongside the team to deliver results, solve problems, and provide hands-on support when and where it's needed most.
* Stay adaptable and action-oriented, responding quickly to business needs while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement and efficiency.
We are One Community
* Foster strong relationships across all levels of the business, working collaboratively to create a supportive, inclusive, and connected workplace.
* Encourage open communication and trust, ensuring every voice is heard and employees feel valued, respected, and part of our shared success.
* Unite teams around shared goals, supporting managers and colleagues to work together effectively and celebrate collective achievements.
About the Department
Our HR and Health & Safety team supports every part of the business by looking after our people and ensuring a safe, positive working environment.
From recruitment and onboarding through to training, employee wellbeing, and legislative compliance, the team manages the full employee lifecycle with care and professionalism. With a focus on fairness, safety, and development, they provide guidance and services that enable our employees to thrive and the business to perform at its best.
The Bailey Family
Bailey of Bristol is one of the UK's leading manufacturers of leisure vehicles, with a proud history of craftsmanship and innovation. We are committed to producing high-quality leisure vehicles that inspire adventure, and we take pride in our skilled workforce, strong team culture, and dedication to excellence.
We have been building Bailey leisure vehicles here in South Bristol since 1948 and are now very much part of the local community. We are also the tenth largest private company in Bristol and the largest recruiter in the area.
The majority of our employees live nearby and have been with us for a long time, with the average length of service around 10 years. As a result, our workforce possesses the necessary skill and experience to successfully produce a complex range of caravans, motorhome and campervans in the same production facility.
What We Offer
As a large business we have opportunities in many areas and can offer people wide and varied careers, all of which attract an excellent benefits package. We are continually reviewing our offering to ensure we remain an employer of choice in the local area.
All positions at Bailey attract excellent benefits including...
Financial & Remuneration
* Competitive salaries (with entry-level hourly rates above the Real Living Wage)
* Enhanced Company Pension Scheme
* Life Assurance Cover from day 1 of employment
* Salary exchange Cycle to Work scheme
* Financial support through salary advance and travel loan schemes
Social & Culture
* Excellent holiday entitlement (25 days a year plus Bank Holidays) with additional entitlement for long service
* Enhanced family friendly pay; Maternity pay (24 weeks full pay followed by 15 weeks statutory pay) / Paternity pay (2 weeks full pay)
* Longer weekends as a result of an early finish every Friday (role dependent & subject to business needs)
* Monthly recognition awards
* 25% discount at our partner company PRIMA Leisure
Health & Wellbeing
* Health cashback scheme
* Corporate gym memberships
* Bi-weekly free fruit mondays
* Employee Assistance Program
* On-site Mental Health First Aiders
* HRT treatment support
Learning & Development
* Dedicated induction & onboarding
* Career progression opportunities
* Role-specific training
* Opportunity to apply for Apprenticeship Levy support courses
Find out more by clicking on the links below.