HR Manager

MacGregor Black; Hereford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading food manufacturing business in Hereford to appoint an HR Manager on a maternity cover contract starting January 2027. The role sits on site and partners with the site leadership to drive the people agenda across a fast-paced operation.

You will provide practical HR guidance, manage complex employee relations, develop the onsite HR team, and deliver engagement, retention and performance improvements, with manufacturing experience essential.

Qualifications

• Proven HR manager or senior HR generalist experience in manufacturing.
• Strong employment law knowledge and ER casework experience.
• Experience working with trade unions and leading people-change projects.
• Coaching and influencing operational leaders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with site leaders to deliver people plans aligned with operational priorities.
• Provide expert guidance on complex ER matters and policy compliance.
• Lead and develop the onsite HR team.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding and retention.
• Manage relationships with trade unions and lead engagement initiatives.
• Deliver people change projects, including restructures and changes to terms and conditions.
• Oversee learning, development and succession planning.
• Monitor people KPIs and support audits and ethics compliance.

Skills

HR Manager experience

Manufacturing environment

Employment law

Trade unions

People coaching

Education

CIPD Level 5+

Job description

Do you have proven HR experience within a manufacturing environment?

Are you confident managing complex employee relations and partnering with operational leaders?

Can you combine hands-on HR support with the delivery of strategic people plans?

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading Food Manufacturing business in the search for an HR Manager on a maternity cover contract, based in Hereford.

With an ideal start date of January 2027, this role requires 3–4 days on site each week.

Working closely with the site leadership team, you will lead the people agenda across a busy manufacturing operation. You will provide practical HR guidance, develop the onsite HR team and support improvements in engagement, retention and performance.

Manufacturing experience is essential, alongside the ability to work confidently within a fast-paced operational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with site leaders to deliver people plans aligned with operational priorities.
• Provide expert guidance on complex ER matters, ensuring consistent application of policies and employment law.
• Lead and develop the onsite HR team.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding and retention.
• Manage relationships with trade unions and lead employee engagement initiatives.
• Deliver people change projects, including restructures and changes to terms and conditions.
• Oversee learning, development and succession planning.
• Monitor people KPIs and support ethical standards, compliance and audits.

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience as an HR Manager or senior HR generalist within manufacturing.
• Strong employment law knowledge and experience managing complex ER casework.
• Experience working with trade unions and delivering people change projects.
• Confidence influencing operational stakeholders and coaching managers.
• Experience leading and developing HR colleagues.
• CIPD Level 5 or above.
• A resilient, practical approach, balancing day-to-day priorities with longer-term people objectives.
• Food manufacturing experience is desirable.