Job Title:
Head of People
Location:
Trafford Park, Manchester
Reports to:
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer (CSGO) + transactional alignment to CFO
Direct Reports:
3 (including HR Administrator, Recruitment Coordinator, HR Advisor)
Department:
People
Type:
Full-time, Permanent
ROLE PURPOSE
:The
Head of Peopl
e is responsible for leading the delivery of core HR operations and people processes across The Fragrance Shop and Per-Scent. This is a
primarily operational and coordination-focused rol
e, ensuring consistent HR service delivery, policy adherence, efficient people administration, and effective recruitment coordination across retail, warehouse, and head office teams
.
Strategic HR planning, organisation design, complex ER case management, and employment law advice will be supported and led by the Company'
s external HR consultancy partn
er, with this role acting as the key internal liaison. The role is a stakeholder for setting the group people strategy and cultural transformation programmes. Senior leadership capability development, sits at Board Leve
**l.
KEY RESPONSIBILITI**
**ES:
1. HR Service Delivery & Operat**
2. ionsOversee day-to-day HR operations including onboarding, offboarding, HR documentation, right-to-work, absence, and personnel file managem
3. ent.Ensure consistent service delivery to 1,300+ colleagues across all locati
4. ons.Maintain the employee lifecycle processes with a strong focus on accuracy, compliance, and timelin
5. ess.Coordinate payroll data preparation and ensure smooth interfaces between HR and payr
**oll.
1. Team Leadership & Coordin**
2. ationLead and support the internal People Team (x3) with direction, coaching, workload planning, and performance manage
3. ment.Ensure the team delivers efficient HR administration and recruitment coordina
4. tion.Act as first escalation point for internal HR operational is
5. sues.Work closely with the Group Payroll Manager and ensure HR and Payroll process a
**ligns
1. Policy, Compliance & HR Gove**
2. rnanceMaintain up-to-date policies, procedures, and employee handbooks, working directly with the external HR consultancy (Wurkp
3. lace).Ensure employment practices remain compliant with UK legislation by applying guidance provided by the external ex
4. perts.Oversee GDPR compliance relating to employee data and HR syste
**m use.
1. Employee Relations Coord**
2. inationCoordinate and support ER processes for head office and escalated retail/warehouse
3. cases.Draft documentation, prepare case packs, schedule meetings, and support investig
4. ations.Escalate all complex, high-risk, or legally sensitive matters to the external HR consultancy for formal dir
5. ection.Ensure consistent application of company policy across all
**cases.
1. Recruitment, Resourcing & Workforce**
2. SupportManage recruitment coordination including job adverts, screening support, scheduling, and reference
3. checks.Support hiring managers with operational recruitment
4. queries.Coordinate seasonal hiring and volume recruitment cycles, supported by external partners where
5. needed.Contribute to workforce planning activities delivered by the external HR cons
**ultancy.
1. HR Systems, Reporting & Admin**
2. istrationMaintain PeopleXD (or equivalent) ensuring accurate employee records and data
3. quality.Provide regular operational HR reports including turnover, absence, and compliance
4. metrics.Produce routine dashboards for the CSGO & CFO to support operational decisio
5. n-making.Lead the discovery, procurement and implementation of HR systems and software (in conjunction with group Payroll
**manager)
1. Learning, Engagement & Wellbei**
2. ng SupportCoordinate training programmes delivered internally or via external
3. providers.Manage the use of the Apprenticeship Levy in collaboration with L&D
4. partners.Support implementation of wellbeing and engagement initiatives (stakeholder in strategy
5. creation).Ensure consistent communication of people policies and updates across the
**business.
1. External HR Consultancy Relationship**
2. ManagementAct as the primary internal liaison for outsourced HR advisory services (
3. Wurkplace).Coordinate the flow of information, documentation, and case details between managers and the c
4. onsultancy.Ensure timely escalation of ER matters and governa
5. nce issues.Monitor service levels and identify any process im
**provements.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUA**
LIFICATIO
* NS:
EssentialProven experience in HR operations or HR management within retail, logistics, or multi-site
- environments.Strong practical understanding of UK HR processes and employment law
- fundamentals.Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop
- a small team.Strong organisational and administrative skills with high attenti
- on to detail.Experience working with external HR service providers or outsourced adv
- isory models.Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, multi-s
ite busin
* ess.
DesirableCIPD Level 5 (or wor
- king towards).Experience with HR systems such as Ac
- cess PeopleXD.Comfortable coordinating activities involving external partners
and advisors.