People Operations Manager Responsible to: Head of People Services Department: People Services Location: JD Sports Fashion PLC, Hollins Brook Way, Bury, BL9 8RR Hours: 40 Hours Per Week, 5 days The Role: The People Operations Manager will lead and manage the People Operations team, ensuring efficient delivery of HR processes and an exceptional employee experience. This role is key to driving operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement across all People Operations activities. Key Duties/Responsibilities: Lead and Develop the People Operations Team: Provide clear direction, coaching, and support to team members, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to deliver a high-quality service. Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team. Oversee the Employee Lifecycle: Take ownership of all operational processes across the employee journey, including onboarding, offboarding, contractual changes, and job transitions. Ensure these processes are delivered accurately, efficiently, and in line with company policies and legal requirements. Ensure Policy Compliance and Governance: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and internal policies. Proactively review and update procedures to ensure compliance and mitigate risk, while promoting best practices across the organisation. Drive Operational Excellence: Regularly assess and refine People Operations workflows to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency. Identify opportunities for automation and process enhancements that deliver measurable improvements to service delivery. Manage HR Data and Reporting: Ensure the integrity and accuracy of HR data across systems. Produce timely and insightful reports to support business decision-making, compliance obligations, and payroll processes. Build Strong Stakeholder Relationships: Act as a trusted advisor to managers and senior leaders, providing guidance on People Operations matters and ensuring a consistent, customer-focused approach to service delivery. Handle Complex Queries and Escalations: Serve as the escalation point for challenging or sensitive issues, resolving them promptly and professionally while maintaining confidentiality and compliance. Champion Continuous Improvement: Monitor operational metrics through KPI’s and SLA’s and provide feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement. Lead initiatives that enhance employee experience and streamline processes. Support HR Technology and Self-Service: Promote the use of HR systems and self-service tools, embedding a culture focused on simplicity and customer experience. Ensuring employees and managers are equipped to access and utilise these resources effectively. Collaborate on system upgrades and enhancements to improve functionality. Contribute to Projects and Change Initiatives: Play an active role in organisational projects, including policy reviews, system implementations, and change management activities, ensuring People Operations considerations are fully represented. Essential Skills Proven experience in HR/People Operations management. Strong leadership and team development skills. In-depth knowledge of HR processes and compliance requirements. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Ability to manage complex issues and make sound decisions. Strong organisational and time management skills. Proficiency in HR systems and data management. Desirable Skills Experience in process improvement and change management. Knowledge of payroll processes and integration points. Familiarity with HR technology implementation projects. CIPD qualification or equivalent. Advanced Excel and reporting skills.