HR Manager (Maternity Cover)

Pure Resourcing Solutions Limited; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A high-growth biotech company in the UK seeks an experienced HR leader for maternity cover. The role involves managing employee relations, recruitment, and ensuring legal compliance. Candidates should have proven HR experience, knowledge of employment law, and ideally a background in life sciences or biotech. This position offers a meaningful opportunity in a fast-paced environment, making a significant impact on business evolution.

Qualifications

• Proven HR generalist experience.
• Strong employment law knowledge.
• Experience in life sciences or biotech preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary HR advisor to managers.
• Handle employee relations and manage performance.
• Lead recruitment activity and design targeted training.
• Manage sickness absence and maintain HR documentation.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Legal compliance

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Autonomous operation

Solutions-focused approach

Education

CIPD Level 5+ or equivalent

Job description

A high-growth biotech is looking for an experienced HR leader to step in during a maternity cover period and ensure the HR function keeps pace with a business that's moving quickly and evolving fast.

You’ll act as the primary HR advisor to managers, handling employee relations, embedding systems for managing performance while also leading recruitment activity.

The role involves providing expert guidance on HR policy, legal compliance and risk mitigation, managing sickness absence and maintaining accurate HR documentation, as well as reviewing and updating policies in line with UK legislation and global frameworks.

You’ll also support talent reviews, succession planning and manager development conversations, contribute to change initiatives, design and deliver targeted training or coaching, and monitor HR metrics to help inform strategic decisions.

You’ll bring proven HR generalist experience, strong employment law knowledge, excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate autonomously with a practical, solutions‑focused approach. CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent) is preferred, and experience within life sciences or biotech would be highly desirable.

If you thrive in a fast‑paced, innovative environment, this is a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Contact Mark Wishart at Pure for further details