HR Lead

McCain; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in the UK is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner for its Cornwall site. This strategic role involves close collaboration with site leaders to enhance organisational performance and employee engagement. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of HR experience in a manufacturing environment, be CIPD qualified, and possess strong skills in HR systems and employee relations. This position is fully site-based with occasional travel for broader business needs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of HR experience, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Confident handling employee relations in a busy operational setting.
• Proactive, people-centred, and able to take ownership of their remit.

Responsibilities

• Partner with functional leaders to support critical business strategies.
• Lead and support talent management processes.
• Collaborate closely with Talent Acquisition on hiring needs.

Skills

HR systems

Microsoft Office

Employee relations

Organisational skills

People-centred approach

Education

Degree in HR or related field

CIPD qualified

Tools

Workday

Time/attendance tools

Job description

Overview

We're hiring an experienced HR Business Partner for our Cornwall site. This role is a strategic and hands‑on partnership with site leaders, supporting a busy manufacturing environment while delivering HR initiatives that enhance organisational performance, employee engagement, and talent development.

What You'll Do

• Partner with functional leaders to support critical business and organisational strategies.
• Lead and support talent management processes, including performance management, development plans, and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
• Collaborate closely with Talent Acquisition on hiring needs and sourcing strategies.
• Manage core HR administration, ensuring processes are accurate, timely, and compliant.
• Support employee relations, mediation, and issue resolution with professionalism and integrity.
• Contribute to engagement initiatives and organisational change activities.
• Operate as a key member of the site's HR function, supporting a diverse internal client group.

What We're Looking For

• Degree in HR or a related field (or qualified by relevant experience).
• 5+ years of HR experience, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• CIPD qualified, with strong knowledge across core HR disciplines.
• Skilled in HR systems (e.g., Workday), Microsoft Office, and time/attendance tools.
• Strong organisational, prioritisation, and administrative abilities.
• Confident handling employee relations in a busy operational setting.
• Proactive, people‑centred, and able to take ownership of their remit.
• Nice to have: Experience working within a matrix organisation.
• Background in change management or transformation environments.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies.

Additional Information

This is a fully site‑based role. Occasional travel may be required to support wider business needs.