Based in the Stoke area, this national group of companies are in a period of growth. With a turnover of circa £90 million, this role will oversee the HR requirements of 400 employees across a multi-site operation. With an international reach, they work with a raft of prestigious clients and have a new role within the head offices to manager the HR function. A hands-on and highly operational role this position comes with several benefits and will lead on day-to-day HR activities in a vibrant, forward thinking company. Salary and Benefits: - A salary up to £50,000 - Hybrid working (after a settling in period) - 25 days of annual leave (plus Bank Holidays) - Private medical insurance - Critical illness cover - A company pension that rises to 6% with service - Product discounts - Car parking Your New Role as HR Manager: Reporting directly to the HR Director, your role as HR Manager will take responsibility for delivering a comprehensive, professional, and hands-on HR service to the business. As HR Manager you shall ensure compliance with UK employment law, HR policies and company values, while supporting managers to achieve business objectives through effective people management, employee engagement, and workforce development. This is a highly operational and people-facing role, requiring direct involvement in day to day HR activity, including disciplinary and grievance matters, investigations, and wider employee relations. The successful candidate will also demonstrate strong analytical ability, using HR data to provide meaningful insights and accurate reporting to the Board and senior stakeholders. Key responsibilities Provide clear advice and guidance to managers and employees on HR policies, procedures, and employment legislation, ensuring compliance with current UK law. Lead on complex employee relations casework including disciplinary, grievance, investigations, absence management, retirement, and redundancy, ensuring fair and consistent outcomes. Oversee end-to-end recruitment, onboarding, induction and probation review processes, ensuring high-quality candidate and employee experience. Support managers with employment terms and conditions, promoting best practice and consistency. Develop and update HR policies and procedures to support performance, engagement, and continuous improvement. Monitor and analyse staff turnover, absence and retention, recommending strategies to improve engagement and reduce attrition. Produce accurate monthly HR reports on key metrics (absence, turnover, recruitment, training), providing analysis and insight for the Global HR Director and Board. Mentor, support and develop members of the HR team, building skills, capability and confidence. Contribute to delivery of HR strategy, supporting organisational change, employee engagement and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Support the development of reward and benefits strategies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Lead succession planning and talent management activities to build a sustainable, capable workforce. Build strong relationships with managers, employees and external stakeholders, positioning HR as a trusted partner. Act as the first point of contact with regulatory and statutory bodies where required, ensuring compliance with employment, health & safety and data protection legislation. Champion company values, fostering a positive workplace culture aligned with business objectives Carry out any other reasonable duties as required from time to time. Experience and Skills Required to Apply: CIPD qualified to Level 7, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience. Demonstrable experience of handling complex disciplinary, grievance and investigation processes. Hands-on HR practitioner with strong operational experience in a fast-paced environment, ideally manufacturing. Strong analytical skills; able to interpret HR data and present insights clearly in Board reports. Commercially focused with the ability to align HR practice to business needs. Excellent knowledge of UK employment legislation with proven ability to apply this effectively. Strong interpersonal skills; able to build and maintain relationships at all levels. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to maintain confidentiality. Skilled in building and maintaining strong working relationships at all levels. Organised with strong attention to detail, time management and problem-solving skills. Collaborative team player with a positive and flexible approach. Committed to continuous improvement, process efficiency and high professional standards. Hands-on experience with HR systems and processes. Flexible in approach, with a willingness to support wider business needs. Consistently produces high standards of work with a strong work ethic. Summary: This is a unique opportunity to join a global brand. This vacancy will offer you the opportunity to mange two members of staff and play a key role to manage the HR functions and day-to-day activity within the department. You will be offered 25 days of annual leave, be able to start at a time that suits you, and have the chance to work for a business that has been operating for over 60 years. IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED YOU MUST BE RESIDING IN THE UK CURRENTLY, HAVE UK BASED HR EXPERIENCE, AND HAVE THE FULL RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK You must also meet all the ESSENTIAL criteria for your application to be considered. This vacancy is being handled by Darren Cadman Kenton Black Finance.