HR Manager

The Talent World; Preston; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KPI Bonus Scheme

33 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)

Company Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Company Sick Pay

Employee Discount Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The Talent World is actively seeking an HR Manager for Preston, UK, on a full-time, permanent basis. The role is multi-site and reports to the Group HR Director, offering a hands-on, strategic and operational workload across recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and HR policy management.

In this position you will partner with senior leaders to shape the People Plan, drive HR compliance with UK employment law, and lead initiatives to improve engagement and development across the organisation.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5+ or equivalent experience.
• Proven HR Manager or Senior HR Advisor experience.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement HR strategy aligned to business goals.
• Lead end-to-end recruitment and workforce planning.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and development initiatives.
• Advise on employee relations, including complex case management.
• Draft and manage HR documentation, policies, and procedures.
• Drive performance management processes, including appraisals and reviews.
• Support succession planning and talent development across business units.
• Monitor and improve employee engagement and retention strategies.
• Manage compensation, benefits, and payroll coordination.
• Maintain accurate HR systems, reporting, and data compliance.
• Deliver training sessions and workshops to managers and teams.
• Lead and contribute to HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

CIPD Level 5+

HR Manager experience

UK employment law

Employee relations

Communication skills

GDPR knowledge

Education

CIPD Level 5+ certification

CIPD Level 7 (desirable)

Job description

HR Manager- Preston UK (Multi-site role)- Head office Preston Full-time and Permanent | Monday–Friday (40 hours per week, incl. 1-hour unpaid break) £45,000 – £50,000 per annum + benefits

About the Company

Our client is a well-established, market-leading national distributor within the fmcg sector, with a successful heritage spanning over 60 years. With a turnover exceeding £150m and a workforce of 400+ employees, they operate across multiple UK sites, delivering a wide range of products to businesses of all sizes from independent operators to large-scale organisations. Blending local expertise with national scale, the company is known for its strong customer relationships, operational excellence, and commitment to innovation in a fast-moving industry.

The Opportunity

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced HR Manager to play a key role in shaping and delivering the organisation’s People Plan. Working closely with the Group HR Director, you’ll take a hands-on, strategic and operational role, supporting managers across the business while driving best practice in people management and employment law compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement HR strategy aligned to business goals
• Lead end-to-end recruitment and workforce planning
• Oversee onboarding, training, and development initiatives
• Act as a trusted advisor on employee relations, including complex case management
• Draft and manage HR documentation, policies, and procedures
• Drive performance management processes, including appraisals and reviews
• Support succession planning and talent development across business units
• Monitor and improve employee engagement and retention strategies
• Manage compensation, benefits, and payroll coordination
• Maintain accurate HR systems, reporting, and data compliance
• Deliver training sessions and workshops to managers and teams
• Lead and contribute to HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives

Compliance & Culture

• Ensure full compliance with UK employment legislation and HR best practice
• Promote a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professionalism
• Support a safe and compliant working environment, adhering to Health & Safety standards

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent experience)
• Proven experience as an HR Manager or Senior HR Advisor
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases
• Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and ability to manage sensitive information

Desirable:

• CIPD Level 7 (or working towards)
• Experience in organisational change or transformation
• Exposure to M&A activity
• Knowledge of GDPR/Data Protection
• Experience using HR analytics and data-driven decision making

What’s in It for You?

• KPI Bonus Scheme
• 33 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Company Sick Pay
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

Why Apply?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing, nationally recognised organisation where you can truly make an impact. You’ll have the autonomy to shape HR practices while working within a supportive leadership structure.