HR Manager

NHS; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is looking for an HR Advisor in Greater Manchester to provide professional People Advisory support. The role includes leading HR Advisors, coaching teams, and ensuring compliance with employment law. Candidates should have a master's in HR or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage employee relations issues. The position offers a salary between £47,810 to £54,710 annually and can be fulfilling on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of operational HR at a senior advisory level, including leading casework and advising managers.
• Experience of managing or supervising others.
• Experience of dealing with complex employee relations issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate leadership to HR Advisors.
• Coach and mentor HR Advisors to develop skills.
• Produce high-quality reports for stakeholders.
• Develop effective working relationships at all levels.
• Lead specific HR projects within the NHS modernisation agenda.

Skills

Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice

Excellent communication skills

Strong people management skills

Ability to analyse complex information

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HR information systems

Education

Educated to master's level in HR or equivalent HR experience

CIPD Associate Member, working towards Level 7

Job description

Job Summary

Following a reorganisation of our People Services function, these newly created roles will be an integral part of our service, providing professional, proactive and customer‑focused People Advisory support to our clinical divisions and corporate services across WWL.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate leadership and management to HR Advisors in the delivery of an effective and high‑quality operational HR service to the Trust.
• Coach and mentor HR Advisors and other team members to develop their knowledge and skills.
• Work on own initiative and prioritise own workload and that of the team to ensure key performance indicators and service level agreements are met.
• Ensure services are customer‑focused, efficient, and aligned to divisional priorities and People Services objectives.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels across the organisation, establishing trust and professional credibility to support the delivery of the Trust’s people priorities and improve the employee experience.
• Contribute to the improvement of key workforce performance indicators (sickness, turnover, appraisal rates, mandatory training rates, bank and agency usage, workforce numbers, staff engagement) through coaching and supporting leaders to develop and enact plans, and by providing workforce reports and analysis.
• Coach and support leaders to create compassionate and inclusive cultures in their service areas.
• Produce high‑quality reports, drawing data and information from a variety of sources, and present information to relevant stakeholders.
• Support the Business Partners and Associate Director of People Services in developing and implementing systems and procedures that provide an efficient and effective basis for the provision of accurate and appropriate HR advice to all levels of the organisation.
• Maintain and support the development of digital workforce systems, ensuring divisions have robust workforce information and data to support services in interpreting and translating data into actions that support the delivery of services and high‑quality patient care and staff experience.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of a range of employment policies and procedures within the Trust, ensuring that the Trust anticipates and responds in a timely manner to changes in employment legislation and that managers are trained and supported to implement such policies fairly and consistently, working in partnership with Trade Unions.
• Monitor, measure and report on HR issues, opportunities, development plans and achievements within agreed formats and timescales.
• Contribute to the development of workforce plans and strategies.
• Seek feedback from key stakeholders and share this with Business Partners and the wider team to improve the service People Service provides.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on escalated, complex, and multifaceted people matters and enquiries relating to terms and conditions of service and interpretation of organisational policy and procedure.
• Work closely with managers and leadership teams to ensure effective and timely resolution of all levels of employee relations matters, including complex informal and formal matters such as disciplinary, safeguarding, grievance, performance management, dignity and civility at work and attendance at work, and other employment‑related issues.
• Lead and actively participate in HR forums and sub‑groups.
• Develop and establish effective working relationships with trade union representatives in line with Trust values, promoting partnership working whilst exploring and determining effective courses of action and resolving conflict and contentious issues.
• Support change and innovation within the Trust by working in partnership with management and staff side to facilitate new ways of working and the effective management of change, in accordance with appropriate policies, procedures, legislation and best practice.
• Lead specific HR projects as identified and contribute to the NHS modernisation agenda through involvement in the development and implementation of key national areas of work including Agenda for Change, Equality and Diversity, Wellbeing, etc.
• Work closely with the OD, L&D and Digital Workforce Teams to contribute to the development and implementation of the national and local People/OD strategy, in order to meet the objectives and quality standards of the Trust.
• Be responsible for the promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity within the workplace and contribute to the development of appropriate strategies to support equality and diversity in employment policies and initiatives.
• Design and deliver training and development programmes in a range of areas relevant to People Services.
• Deputise for the Senior HR Business Partners in their absence.
• Oversee internal/external audits within areas of responsibility, analyse results and develop and embed actions to improve performance.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust, representing the organisation to relevant partners, other NHS bodies, regulators, voluntary sector and other relevant organisations, developing constructive relationships to the benefit of the Trust.
• Participate in relevant internal and external working groups, projects, services and initiatives to provide information and expertise.

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• Educated to masters' level in HR or equivalent HR experience.
• CIPD Associate Member, working towards Level 7.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Knowledge of NHS Terms & Conditions and Agenda for Change.
• Understanding of NHS 10 Year Plan, Long Term Workforce Plan and People Promise commitments.
• Knowledge of equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing in employment practice.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to analyse complex information and provide sound, evidence‑based advice.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Strong people management skills with ability to coach and support others.
• Ability to remain calm, impartial and solution‑focused under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HR information systems.
• Progressive and innovative approach to HRM and contribution of HR to the delivery of a modern NHS service.
• Significant experience of operational HR at a senior advisory level, including leading casework and advising managers.
• Experience of working in a unionised environment and developing constructive staff‑side relationships.
• Experience of managing or supervising others.
• Experience of leading HR policy development and implementation.
• Experience of supporting organisational change and service redesign.
• Experience of dealing with complex employee relations issues, including grievance, discipline, sickness absence and organisational change.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Employment Law qualification.
• Able to travel and work flexibly across the geographical footprint of the organisation.
• Knowledge of NHS Job Evaluation process.
• Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and employment policy.
• Ability to use workforce analytics to support decision‑making.
• Previous NHS HR experience.
• Experience of using ESR, e‑Rostering and other digital workforce systems.
• Experience of delivering training and development to managers.

Pay & Conditions

Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year (pro‑rated, per annum)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Date posted: 17 December 2025

Location

Buckingham Row, Brick Kiln Lane, Wigan, WN1 1XX

Employer Details

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Website: www.wwl.nhs.uk

Additional Information

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 for Disclosure and Barring Service checks.