HR Manager (14 Month FTC)
Location: Wrexham (2 site manufacturing operation)
Salary: £65,000-£70,000 (flexible up to £75,000) + £5,000 car allowance
Contract: 14 month fixed term contract
Hours: 37 hours per week
Start Date: Within the next 2 weeks (immediate availability essential)
The Opportunity
Robet Half LTD seeking an experienced and hands-on HR Manager to join a Wrexham manufacturing operation on a 14-month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. This is an urgent requirement and candidates must be immediately available or able to start within the next two weeks.
This is a pivotal leadership role within a unionised, fast-paced manufacturing environment, supporting circa 200 employees across two sites. Around 70% of the workforce is blue collar, alongside head office and functional teams.
You will have full operational HR oversight for the site, while also sitting as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), influencing business decisions and leading people-focused projects.
The Role
Reporting into the wider UK HR structure and working closely with the Plant Director and SLT, you will:
1. Lead and develop a team of 6 HR professionals (including HR Advisor, Assistant, Training Coordinator and specialist support functions)
2. Provide full operational HR leadership across a unionised manufacturing workforce
3. Act as the key liaison with Trade Unions, leading on pay negotiations (current talks underway and groundwork for 2026)
4. Drive engagement, communication and change activity following recent acquisition
5. Partner with SLT to shape and execute the annual people plan
6. Bring greater structure and consistency to key HR processes (e.g. bonus schemes, policy application, people frameworks)
7. Support continuous improvement initiatives across the plant
8. Champion visibility and presence on the shop floor - building trust and credibility at all levels
9. Lead employee engagement initiatives, CSR and community involvement programmes
10. Collaborate with central functions including Legal, ER and Compensation & Benefits teams
11. Support ongoing projects
This is a highly visible role requiring strong influencing skills, commercial awareness and the ability to balance strategic input with hands-on operational delivery.
About You
We are looking for a confident and credible HR leader who thrives in a manufacturing setting and enjoys being embedded in the operation.
You will bring:
12. Proven HR leadership experience within a manufacturing environment (food manufacturing desirable)
13. Essential experience working in a unionised setting
14. Strong experience leading pay negotiations and managing union relationships
15. A track record of developing and nurturing HR teams
16. Experience operating as part of a Senior Leadership Team
17. The ability to influence, challenge and partner at senior level
18. A hands-on, visible and approachable leadership style
19. Strong change management and engagement experience
20. Commercial awareness and sound judgement
Most importantly, you will be a strong people leader - someone who can bring stability, energy and direction, develop capability within the HR team, and foster collaboration across the site.
Working Arrangements
21. Predominantly site-based (5 days per week), with some flexibility for occasional home working
22. Flexibility around start and finish times
23. Open, collaborative office environment (approx. 60 office-based colleagues)
24. A "small company within a bigger company" feel - autonomy within a wider corporate framework
Why Join?
25. Opportunity to play a key leadership role during a significant period of business change
26. High visibility and influence at site and UK level
27. A supportive SLT and engaged workforce
28. Real scope to shape, improve and strengthen people processes
29. Immediate impact opportunity
Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training.