HR Manager in Bridgend

Taylor Higson; Bridgend; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in Bridgend is looking for a proactive HR Manager to shape and deliver best practice HR. This generalist role involves managing employee relations, supporting recruitment, and ensuring compliance. Ideal candidates will have strong knowledge of UK employment law and proven HR experience in manufacturing. The position offers an opportunity to work closely with senior leadership to drive HR initiatives.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager within manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Good understanding of GDPR in an HR context.
• Experience of SEDEX / BRC audits.
• Payroll process knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Deliver HR inductions for new starters and support succession planning.
• Provide expert advice on Employee Relations issues.
• Ensure GDPR compliance across all HR processes.
• Manage onboarding and issue contracts of employment.

Skills

Communication

Influencing

Problem-solving

Advanced absence management

IT proficiency

Education

CIPD Level 3 (or working towards)

Tools

SAGE or equivalent

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

HR Manager

Location: Bridgend
Reports to: Managing Director
Team: Management (with direct line management responsibility for an HR Administrator)
Level: Management

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and commercially minded HR Manager to join our management team. This is a full generalist HR role within a manufacturing environment, offering the opportunity to shape and deliver best practice HR while acting as a trusted partner to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

As HR Manager, you ll be the key contact for all HR matters providing strategic advice, managing employee relations, supporting recruitment and development, and ensuring compliance across all people-related activities. You ll also manage and mentor an HR Administrator, while working closely with Group HR colleagues to deliver consistent, high-quality HR support across the business.

What You ll Do

Training & Development

• Deliver HR inductions for new starters and ensure probation reviews are completed.

• Support succession planning and functional team development.

Resourcing & Recruitment

• Benchmark salaries and contribute to workforce planning.

• Issue contracts of employment and manage onboarding.

Employee Relations

• Provide expert advice on ER issues including disciplinary, grievance, and performance management.

• Ensure employment policies are applied fairly and consistently.

Generalist HR Administration

• Ensure GDPR compliance across all HR processes.

• Produce HR metrics and management information reports.

What We re Looking For

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as a Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager within manufacturing.

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

• Experience of SEDEX / BRC audits.

• Generalist HR expertise including employee relations, recruitment, and HR systems.

• Payroll process knowledge (SAGE or equivalent).

• GDPR awareness in an HR context.

• Advanced absence management expertise.

• Excellent communication, influencing, and problem-solving skills.

• IT proficiency including Excel, PowerPoint, and HR systems.

Desirable

• CIPD Level 3 (or working towards).

• Experience with SAGE 200 Payroll / ERP.