People Manager
* Contract: Fixed term (7-months maternity cover)
* Salary: £36,000 - £39,000 (pro rata)
* Location: Hybrid - minimum 2 days per week in the Kennington office
* Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
* Benefits: 28 days annual leave + bank holidays, 5% employer pension, flexible working, reflective practice support
Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Groundswell to recruit a People Manager (Maternity Cover).
This is an exciting opportunity to join a pioneering organisation where lived experience and participation are at the heart of everything they do. Groundswell has grown significantly in recent years and is now looking for a People Manager to provide vital HR leadership and continuity during a maternity cover period.
This role offers the chance to work in a values-led, collaborative environment, supporting a diverse team and embedding compassionate, trauma-informed HR practice.
About the charity
Groundswell's vision is a society that is fair, inclusive and equal, where everyone has access to a healthier life and a better future, particularly those with experience of homelessness.
Their work focuses on amplifying the voices of people with lived experience, tackling health inequalities, and driving systemic change through participation and co-production. Over 65% of staff have lived experience of homelessness or related issues, creating a uniquely inclusive and insightful culture.
Groundswell fosters a supportive, collaborative environment where staff are encouraged to contribute to decision-making, and where compassion, transparency and equity underpin all aspects of the organisation.
About the job:
* Lead day-to-day HR operations across the full employee lifecycle, including payroll, recruitment, onboarding, employee relations and wellbeing
* Maintain and improve HR systems, processes and documentation, ensuring GDPR compliance and accessibility
* Provide guidance and support to Line Managers, promoting consistent and best practice people management
* Manage complex employee relations matters with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach
* Support organisational development activities, including restructures and role changes
* Oversee staff wellbeing initiatives, engagement surveys and workplace adjustments
* Lead on HR reporting, analysis and insights to inform decision-making
* Embed inclusive, accessible and person-centred HR practices across the organisation
* Support the delivery of EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging) priorities and action plans
* Contribute to key projects, including improving onboarding, training and staff resources
About you:
* Experience working across multiple areas of an HR/People function
* Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice
* Confident supporting and advising Line Managers on a range of people matters
* Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with strong attention to detail
* Experience using HR systems and managing data effectively
* CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent experience)
Desired skills and experience
* Experience working in values-led environments
* Understanding of trauma-informed approaches or person-centred HR practice
* Experience handling complex employee relations or organisational change
* Ability to use HR data to inform decisions and improve processes
* Experience developing training, guidance or internal resources
* A passion for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
How to apply:
Please send your CV as soon as possible. We are looking to move quickly with this role. The closing date is Thursday 18th June at 12:00 pm.
There will be a one-round interview process, which will be online, on the morning of 24th / 25th June.
We are looking for people who are available to start within the week.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to ensure the application process works for you.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.