Job Purpose

• Lead all operational People and resourcing functions including recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations and pay and benefits data management, ensuring compliance with employment law and consistent application of frameworks and policies.
• Deliver a high-quality, confidential People service that enhances capability across the business including triage and self-serve across the employment framework (People policies procedures and processes).
• Manage the employee relations casework tracker to ensure effective and timely resolution to promote a unified organisation with good workplace relations.
• Manage talent acquisition, leveraging our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to attract new talent.
• Manage the governance and administration of the new reward and benefits programme in building a flexible and modern reward and benefits offering.
• Develop improved recruitment capability through upskilling managers, implementing selection assessments and scoring frameworks to achieve effective ‘first time hires’.
• Develop People systems and software to ensure a frictionless colleague experience, including continuous improvement of people metrics to evaluate progress against the success measures within the People Strategy.
• Support the Head of People with the development of a new EDI strategy to be implemented across the organisation.
• Contribute directly to the People Strategy 2025–2028 and its four pillars: Stronger Together, Skills for Today and Tomorrow, Attract and Retain Talent, and Being a Great Place to Work, supporting company mission to be a great place to work and live.

Dimensions

• Work within the People Directorate budget.
• Direct line management for the People Advisor, People Assistants and People Systems and Resourcing Advisor.
• Demonstrate leadership capabilities to build the quality of the services offered and ensuring the development of the team for continuous improvement and succession planning.
• Support the Head of People with the annual budgeting process.
• HR/payroll system data accuracy and reporting integrity.
• Responsible for people data for circa 550 colleagues.
• Ensure compliance with all existing and future legislative and regulatory changes.
• Deliver a best-in-class people operations support service through triage, signposting, escalation in supporting all colleagues, supervisors and line managers, with HR queries and advice.
• Work collaboratively with People Development colleagues and People Business Partners in developing front line management capability to reduce ER casework and to drive an engaged and productive workforce.

Key Objectives / Performance Measures

• Coordinate the delivery of business-aligned, compliant operational People services with recording and evaluation of all employee relation cases (including but not limited to disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence)
• Provide expert advice to ELT, SMT and committees to aid governance and decision-making.
• Act as a leadership role model, internally and externally. Working collaboratively across the organisation to build a high performing workforce.
• Ensure continuous improvement through networking and researching best practice across People operations and resourcing to deliver a quality and industry leading service to our customers.
• Review and develop industry leading policies and user guides aligned with employment law and regulation which provide clear guidance for managers and colleagues.
• Act as subject matter expert on employment frameworks and legislative changes, pre-empting and advising on future developments and learning requirements.
• Developing and promoting the organisation’s employer brand and Employee Value Proposition to deliver pillar three and four of the People Strategy – attracting and retaining the best talent and making the organisation a great place to work.
• Build and maintain talent pools to meet future workforce needs, through leveraging technology and our Employee Value Proposition to attract new talent.
• Partner with hiring managers on effective recruitment planning and campaigns, through developing selection frameworks and training managers on recruitment best practice.
• Ensure accurate, timely people data reporting to support strategic decision making.
• Build strong relationships with recruitment providers and platforms, agencies and suppliers who support our EVP and EDI strategies in recruiting and retaining the best talent available.
• Support procurement and tendering exercises across the organisation, to ensure all supplier contracts are compliant and well-managed.
• Maintain legal compliance across areas including right to work, DBS, and H&S.
• Streamline HR systems and processes for ease of use, leveraging technology, efficiencies and automation.
• Lead EDI strategy, and track and report EDI metrics relating to protected characteristics to ensure a diverse workforce, and to develop an inclusive culture.
• Supporting the pay and benefits strategy through effective reporting, administration, process improvements and implementation.
• Contribute to the implementation and success of the People Strategy.
• Represent the Group professionally externally so that the organisations reputation is enhanced and appropriately positioned for future opportunities.

Skills and Experience Required

• Strong strategic leadership with ability to deliver complex people initiatives.
• Skilled in aligning HR solutions with business needs.
• In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Confident in managing sensitive employee relations matters.
• Experienced in developing and implementing HR policies.
• Expertise in recruitment and resourcing improvement strategies.
• Understanding of EDI strategy development and EVP.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing capabilities.
• Skilled in using HR systems for reporting and insight.
• Effective at managing projects and solving complex problems.
• Adaptable and resilient under pressure.
• Innovative, organised, and able to manage varied workloads.
• Ability to work collaboratively and cross functionally, with a team-oriented and continuous improvement mindset.
• Able to work remotely and travel as required.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualified Level 7 (or equivalent postgraduate HR qualification).
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Key Relationships

• People Directorate and colleagues.
• ELT, SMT, and managers
• External suppliers, contractors and agencies.

Organisation Chart

Reporting to: Head of People

• Direct reports: People Advisor, People Assistants and People Systems and Resourcing Advisor.

Standard Requirements Applicable to all Roles:

• Flexibility to undertake duties that reflect the scope and level of the role.
• Commitment to personal development and learning activities.
• Uphold customer-focused values.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation
• Ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and internal policies.
• Promote and practice equality, diversity, health and safety, and safeguarding principles.
• Maintain high data quality and follow data management protocols