HR Manager

Phoenix Learning & Care Group; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Car allowance

Private medical insurance after 12 mo.

Job summary

Phoenix Learning and Care Group in Bristol is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead a small People Services team and work closely with leaders across the charity group.

You will provide expert advice on employee relations, coaching, and sound decision making on workforce planning, engagement and wellbeing, while ensuring legal compliance and alignment to Phoenix’s values.

Travel across services is required, with a base at Bristol and a flexible contract base discussed with the team.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualification at Level 5 or higher with ongoing professional development.
• Strong generalist HR experience in fast-paced environments.
• Experience coaching or developing HR/people services colleagues.
• Solid knowledge of employment law, HR policy and fair process.
• Experience with retention, engagement, onboarding in care/education or regulated settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop two HR Advisors to deliver a high-quality people service.
• Provide expert advice on complex employee relations issues including discipline, grievance, absence and capability.
• Coach and train managers to apply policies confidently, fairly and consistently.
• Work with operations to understand turnover and improve the employment journey.
• Use HR data and exit feedback to identify trends and drive improvements.
• Assist workforce planning, organizational design and succession planning.
• Contribute to development and delivery of progressive people policies and training.

Skills

Generalist HR

Coaching

Data-driven HR

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

CIPD Level 5+

Job description

About The Role

Salary: £55,710. The role also comes with either a company car or a £500 monthly car allowance, depending on preference. 36 hours per week, with 9 Day Fortnight.

Private medical insurance after 12 months’ service.

Base: Bristol

Phoenix Learning and Care operates schools and colleges, as well as care services for children and adults. The People we support are some of the most vulnerable in society, and often have not had the best start in life.

We are looking for an experienced HR Manager to lead and develop a small, busy People Services team, overseeing two HR Advisors. This is a hands‑on operational and strategic role, working closely with leaders across Phoenix to provide a professional, responsive and values‑led people service across our care and education settings.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted partner and critical friend to operational leaders: supportive, constructive and confident in providing clear advice, coaching and challenge where it is needed. You will help managers make sound, fair and timely decisions on employee relations, absence, performance, engagement, wellbeing, workforce planning and organisational change, while ensuring practice remains legally compliant and aligned to Phoenix’s values.

A key part of the role will be working closely with colleagues, People Services, teams and operational leaders to truly understand the factors affecting Team Member turnover, the reasons people leave, and the opportunities we have to improve the employment journey. You will use workforce data, exit interview feedback and local insight to identify where we need to act differently, strengthen retention, and ensure Team Members feel well supported from the start and throughout their time with Phoenix.

As a trauma‑informed organisation, we are continuing to build a culture that is reflective, fair, open and psychologically safe. We are working towards a just culture where openness, transparency and honest reflection help us understand the root causes of why things sometimes happen, rather than simply focusing on blame. You will play a key role in supporting leaders to respond with curiosity, consistency and good judgement, helping Phoenix learn as an organisation while still being able to address serious issues directly and make difficult decisions when required.

The role will involve regular visibility across our services and time with the wider People Services Team at our Support Hub in Tiverton, Devon. Your contractual base can be discussed depending on where you live and the needs of the role, but the ability and willingness to travel is important.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys leading others, improving systems, solving problems and making a visible difference in a growing organisation that supports and educates vulnerable children and adults.

What you will be doing:

• Leading, supporting and developing two HR Advisors to deliver a consistent, high-quality people service.
• Providing expert advice on complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability, investigations, hearings and appeals.
• Coaching and training managers so they can apply people policies confidently, fairly and consistently.
• Working with colleagues, services, teams and operational leaders to understand turnover, reasons for leaving and opportunities to improve the employment journey.
• Using HR data, workforce insight and exit interview feedback to identify trends, evidence impact and support continuous improvement.
• Supporting workforce planning, organisational design, succession planning and employment package consistency.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of progressive people policies, guidance and training.

What we are looking for:

• CIPD qualified, ideally Level 5 or above, with evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Strong generalist HR experience, including complex and high-volume employee relations in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience of managing, coaching or developing HR or people services colleagues.
• A confident working knowledge of employment law, HR policy and fair process.
• Experience of retention, engagement, onboarding or wider people activity, ideally within care, education or another regulated setting.
• A practical, analytical approach with the ability to use data, insight and professional judgement to solve problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and support leaders at different levels.
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, wellbeing and Phoenix’s values of Nurture, Flourish and Grow.
• A full driving licence and the ability to travel across services when needed.