HR Manager - FTC maternity cover

RCK Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Birthday leave

Buy/sell holiday

Volunteering days

Income protection

Life assurance

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Job summary

RCK seeks an ER-focused HR professional to advise managers across the business, guiding them through the full employee lifecycle while ensuring compliance with UK employment law. The role involves handling complex cases and delivering pragmatic, commercially aware advice under pressure.

Working with the Head of Recruiting/HR and the Group Head of People & Operations, you will shape employee relations strategy, drive training, and contribute to employment policies in a growing consultancy.

Qualifications

• At least five years handling employee relations matters.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law; experience with Ireland, Dubai is a plus.
• Experience in professional services or high-growth environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a broad range of ER matters (disciplinary investigations, grievances, performance management, absence, probation, flexible working, exits).
• Ensure fair, compliant handling aligned with law and company policies.
• Coach managers through difficult conversations and people issues.
• Run monthly training sessions on ER topics.
• Maintain accurate employment documentation and records.

Skills

Employee relations

HR advisory

Employment law

stakeholder management

Coaching managers

Training delivery

Confidentiality

HR policy

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft 365

Job description

RCK is a specialist consultancy practice based in the City of London, specializing in innovation funding and tax relief. Since its incorporation in 2020, we have quickly risen to market-leading prominence and now firmly sit within the top providers in the industry. Our impact on the industry has gained recognition from the likes of former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Philip Hammond, who now chairs our Board of Advisors, as well as numerous Tax Award nominations.

The Role

This is a hands-on role on a fixed-term-contract for 13 months in our small people & ops team with a strong employee relations focus to work alongside the Head of Recruiting/HR Manager while the Group Head of People & Operations is on mat leave.

You will be the trusted advisor to managers across the business, supporting them through the full employee lifecycle whilst ensuring compliance with employment law and HR best practice. You will be comfortable managing complex people matters independently and confident providing clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice.

This role will suit an ER specialist, ER advisor, experienced HR professional or in house employment law specialist who enjoys solving complex people issues, providing pragmatic commercial advice and supporting a high-performing, growing business.

Although the role has a strong employee relations focus, we are looking for someone who enjoys getting involved across the full employee lifecycle. This is a great opportunity for an individual who wants to bring new ideas to life and leave a genuine mark on a growing business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a broad range of employee relations matters, including: Disciplinary investigations and hearings, grievances,performance and capability management, absence management, probation reviews, flexible working requests, exits.
• Ensure all matters are handled fairly, consistently and in line with employment legislation and company policies.
• Coach and support managers through challenging conversations and people issues.
• Run monthly training sessions on above mentioned topics.
• Challenge constructively where required whilst maintaining strong stakeholder relationships
• Ensure accurate and compliant employment documentation, including contracts of employment, offer letters, contractual amendments, side letters and associated employee records.
• Work closely with the Head of Recruitment/HR Manager to contribute to recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement and other people related initiatives where needed or whilst the other team member is off.

About You

• Previous experience in an ER specialist, ER advisor, HR Business Partner, HR Manager or HR Advisor role.
• At least five years' experience managing employee relations matters. You should be able to demonstrate sustained ownership and talk in detail about complex cases you've personally taken from start to finish, including the decisions you made and outcomes you reached.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law plus ideally Ireland, Dubai.
• Experience within professional services, consultancy, financial services, technology or another high-growth business.
• Experience partnering with managers and influencing decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Embraces technology and AI-enabled tools to work more effectively, while applying appropriate human judgement, maintaining confidentiality and recognising the limitations.

You will be:

• Hands-on and keen to help out where necessary.
• Pragmatic and commercially minded.
• Comfortable operating in a high-accountability environment.
• Confident managing sensitive and complex people matters.
• Resilient, responsive and solutions-focused.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Able to build credibility quickly with both managers and employees.

Working Pattern

RCK operates an office first policy. Successful candidates will be expected to maintain an office presence across five days per week. For part-time employees, this may be achieved through reduced daily hours.

Why Join RCK?

At RCK, ambition is recognised, outstanding performance is rewarded and growth creates opportunity. As we continue to expand across the UK and internationally, our people have the chance to take on new challenges, broaden their experience and accelerate their careers. We believe in merit over tenure, giving talented individuals the opportunity to make a real impact and grow with the business

• 25 days annual leave per year with an additional day awarded for your birthday. Holiday entitlement will increase by 2 days after 2 years and 1 day per annum of service thereafter to a maximum of 30 days
• Birthday annual leave
• Buy/sell holiday up to 5 days a year
• 2 days for volunteering a year
• Access to a company-funded therapistIncome Protection
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance with Bupa
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution of qualifying earningsEnhanced family friendly leave policies