HR Manager

Nicholas Associates Group Limited; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicholas Associates Group is seeking an experienced HR Manager for our Milton Keynes headquarters. You will lead a small HR team, own the full employee lifecycle for a workforce under 400, and partner with senior leadership to drive business objectives.

The role requires strategic and hands-on HR capability, strong knowledge of UK employment law, and a proactive, collaborative approach in a fast-paced environment. This is a full-time, on-site position at our Milton Keynes location.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 7 or working towards preferred.
• Proven experience as standalone HR Manager or HR Business Partner.
• Experience mentoring a small HR team.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic projects with day-to-day HR activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a small HR team of two.
• Provide expert HR advice and support to managers and leaders.
• Oversee employee relations, disciplinary, grievance, absence and performance matters.
• Drive recruitment and onboarding to attract and retain top talent.
• Develop and implement HR policies, procedures and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation and HR governance.
• Support organisational change initiatives and growth plans.
• Manage succession planning, talent development and learning initiatives.
• Analyse HR metrics and provide insights to leadership.
• Lead employee engagement activities and wellbeing initiatives.
• Oversee payroll-related HR administration and accurate record keeping.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Strategic & operational balance

Employee relations

Payroll administration

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent

Job description

Ashley Kate HR & Finance are excited to be supporting our client in the MIlton Keynes area as they recruit a permanent HR Manager.

We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Manager to lead and develop our people function at our Milton Keynes headquarters. Reporting directly to senior leadership, you will manage a small HR team of two and take ownership of the full employee lifecycle across a workforce of fewer than 400 employees. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded HR professional who enjoys operating both strategically and operationally within a collaborative and fast-paced environment. As the HR Manager, you will play a key role in supporting business objectives, driving employee engagement, ensuring HR compliance, and fostering a positive, high-performing workplace culture. This is a full time on-site role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of two.
• Provide expert HR advice and support to managers and leaders across the business.
• Oversee all employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, and performance issues.
• Drive recruitment and onboarding activities to attract and retain top talent.
• Develop and implement HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation and HR governance requirements.
• Support organisational change initiatives and business growth plans.
• Manage succession planning, talent development, and learning initiatives.
• Analyse HR metrics and provide insight and recommendations to leadership teams.
• Lead employee engagement activities and wellbeing initiatives.
• Oversee payroll-related HR administration and ensure employee records are maintained accurately.

About You

We're looking for an HR professional who can build strong relationships across all levels of the business and combine strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach.

• CIPD Level 7 or working towards preferred
• Proven experience in a standalone HR Manager, or HR Business Partner role.
• Previous experience managing or mentoring an HR team.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic projects with day-to-day operational HR activities.

If you are an experienced HR professional looking for your next leadership opportunity and enjoy working in a business that offers a fast paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies Privacy Notice.