HR Manager
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1
£45,000 - £50,000 per annum
Full time Permanent role working Monday to Friday Office based
Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are recruiting for a HR Manager or Head of HR to join a company based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Are you an experienced HR professional with a strong background in manufacturing environments or similar? Reporting to the Managing Director you will lead and evolve the HR function across UK and European operations, supporting departments such as Production, Technical Support, Purchasing, Sales, and Service.
Working in a team of 3, this is a hands-on, strategic role ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced, operationally focused settings and is passionate about driving cultural change, improving workforce capability, and embedding consistent HR practices across multiple sites
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement a people strategy aligned with manufacturing and operational goals.
Drive initiatives to improve employee engagement, retention, and performance across production and field-based teams.
Lead the transition from manual HR processes to digital systems, enhancing data accuracy and reporting.
Support organisational design and succession planning to ensure long-term workforce capability.
Act as a cultural ambassador, promoting a collaborative, inclusive, and performance-driven environment.
Operational HR Management
Oversee end-to-end HR operations including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, absence, and disciplinary procedures.
Ensure compliance with UK and European employment legislation, particularly in manufacturing and field service contexts.
Provide expert HR guidance to line managers, enabling effective team leadership and fair decision-making.
Manage and develop a small HR team to deliver high-quality, responsive support to the business.
Lead annual performance reviews and objective-setting processes, ensuring consistency across departments.
Collaborate with Finance to manage compensation and benefits, ensuring alignment with market benchmarks and internal equity.
Produce and analyse HR metrics to support operational decisions and continuous improvement.
Oversee payroll and time & attendance systems, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Systems & Process Improvement
Review and streamline HR documentation and processes to improve efficiency and standardisation across manufacturing and service operations.
Lead or support the implementation of a fit-for-purpose HRIS to enhance data management and reporting.
Champion continuous improvement in HR administration, compliance, and employee experience.
Essential Experience & Skills
Proven HR generalist experience at Manager or Senior Business Partner level within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and familiarity with European HR practices.
Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive cultural and operational change.
Experience managing and developing HR teams.
Practical experience implementing or optimising HR systems and digital processes.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills.
CIPD qualified (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience.
Desirable
Experience in multi-site or international operations.
Understanding of HR compliance for mobile and remote field-based teams.
Exposure to continuous improvement or change management initiatives.
Personal Attributes
Professional, approachable, and resilient with a hands-on mindset.
Strategic thinker who can balance long-term objectives with day-to-day priorities.
Passionate about developing people and improving organisational culture.
High level of integrity, discretion, and accountability.
If you would like to apply for the role of HR Manager then please email your CV to or call Deb on (phone number removed)
Closing date is 3.12.2025 Please note this could change subject to suitable applications.
Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are acting as an employment agency on behalf of its client.
By applying for the above position and providing your personal data to us you understand that your data will be processed in line with our Privacy Policy. To view our full Privacy Policy please visit our website.
Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are committed to the selection, recruitment and development of the best people, basing judgements solely on suitability for the job. Whilst we endeavour to respond to all applications individually, due to high volumes, this is not always possible. Thank you for your interest in this role and we look forward to working with you in the future