Hr Manager

Synergise Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Synergise Recruitment Solutions is exclusively working with a growing Exeter business to appoint its first dedicated HR Manager. This is a hands-on, on-site role covering every department and serving as the senior HR voice across the site.

You will own people policies, lead employee relations and recruitment, and stay ahead of employment law changes. The successful candidate will report to the Director and build the HR function for a 100+ team.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualified.
• Solid experience operating at HR Manager level.
• Able to shield senior leadership from day-to-day noise while flagging what genuinely matters.
• Assertive and approachable – comfortable challenging directors when it's the right call.
• Company-first mindset – commercially minded, not just process-driven.
• Equally credible with warehouse teams and office staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead employee relations – disciplinaries, grievances, absence, performance and capability.
• Own policies, handbook and compliance, including work currently supported externally.
• Coach and upskill managers across the business.
• Run recruitment and onboarding, including agency and temporary workforce.
• Keep on top of employment law, including upcoming changes.
• Lead workforce planning, retention and engagement.
• Act as a genuine people advisor to the Director, not just an admin function.

Job description

HR Manager - Exeter - £45,000 + Bonus - Confidential Search

Synergise Recruitment Solutions is working exclusively with a growing, well-established business in Exeter, employing upwards of 100 staff, to find their first dedicated HR Manager - a confidential appointment due to the sensitivity of the hire.

Our client is scaling up, and it's time for HR to have a proper home. They're looking for someone to take full ownership of the people side of the business, working closely with the Director and covering every department, from warehouse to office.

This isn't a policy-writing, back-office role. You'll be the sole HR presence for a business of this size - the most senior HR voice, visible across the whole site, trusted to run things day-to-day and confident enough to speak up when it matters.

Please note: this is an exclusively on-site position. Given the hands-on nature of the work and the need to be visible, accessible and available to support multiple departments directly, this role does not offer remote or hybrid working.

What you'll be doing

• Leading on employee relations - disciplinaries, grievances, absence, performance and capability
• Owning policies, handbook and compliance, including work currently supported externally
• Coaching and upskilling managers across the business
• Running recruitment and onboarding, including agency and temporary workforce
• Keeping on top of employment law, including the upcoming Employment Rights Act changes
• Leading on workforce planning, retention and engagement
• Acting as a genuine people advisor to the Director, not just an admin function

What we're looking for

• CIPD Level 5 qualified
• Solid experience operating at HR Manager level
• Someone who can shield senior leadership from day-to-day noise while flagging what genuinely matters
• Assertive and approachable - comfortable challenging directors when it's the right call
• A "company first" mindset - commercially minded, not just process-driven
• Equally credible with warehouse teams and office staff

What's on offer

• £45,000 per annum
• Bonus paid six-monthly
• Full-time, on-site, Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm
• The chance to build the HR function from the ground up for a 100+ strong team, with real influence at director level

The identity of the client will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Synergise Recruitment Solutions is acting as a recruitment agency on behalf of our client for this vacancy. Synergise is not the employer.