HR Manager (part time)

Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners - HR Recruitment Experts; North East; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Grey-Smith Legal is seeking an in-house HR Manager to join our growing law firm. This part-time role offers flexibility with options for 3 days a week or 4 hours across 5 days.

You will oversee HR administration, benefits, systems and employee relations across the business, working closely with managers and staff. The successful candidate will bring strong UK Employment Law knowledge, proven HR leadership in a standalone environment, and a proactive approach to improve HR processes and

Qualifications

• Proven experience as HR Manager in a standalone environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK Employment Law and HR best practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience improving or digitalising HR systems and processes.
• Proactive, continuous-improvement mindset to make HR more efficient.

Responsibilities

• Provide HR advice and support to employees and managers on performance, conduct, attendance, wellbeing and employee relations.
• Coach line managers on employee relations matters.
• Onboarding of new staff and setting staff training.
• Manage appraisals, performance reviews, absence management and RTW interviews.
• Maintain accurate employee records and ensure HR policies comply with legislation.
• Develop and maintain HR systems and digital HR initiatives.
• Support implementation of new HR technology and initiatives as the business grows.
• Contribute to HR projects and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives.

Skills

Employment Law

HR best practice

Communication

Interpersonal skills

HR systems

Tools

HRIS

Job description

We are delighted to be recruiting for Grey‑Smith Legal who are now seeking their first in‑house HR Manager due to significant growth and success.

At Grey‑Smith Legal, we believe that a successful business starts with happy, supported and motivated people. Since being established in March 2020 with just one employee, we have grown into a thriving law firm with 51 people across five offices, all while maintaining the family values that have been at the heart of our business from the very beginning.

For us, looking after our people is just as important as looking after our clients. We understand that everyone has commitments and responsibilities outside work, which is why we prioritise wellbeing, genuine flexibility and a healthy work‑life balance. We invest in our team’s futures through fully funded training, career development and opportunities to progress, while making sure hard work is recognised and successes are celebrated.

Our culture is built on teamwork, mutual respect and an open‑door approach, where everyone feels listened to, valued and supported. We want our people to feel that they are part of something special, not simply coming to work each day.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for an HR Manager who shares these values and is passionate about making a positive difference to people’s working lives. This is an opportunity to join a growing firm where HR is about more than policies and procedures; it is about supporting our people, strengthening our culture and helping Grey‑Smith Legal remain a workplace where people genuinely want to belong.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced HR Professional seeking a part‑time role (various working patterns can be considered such as 3 days per week or 4 hours over 5 days), to take ownership of a broad, hands‑on HR function while playing a key role in the continued development of the HR function. With a growing business and a number of exciting projects ahead, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a real impact, improve processes and help shape how HR is delivered across the organisation.

The role covers HR administration, employee benefits, HR systems and employee relations, alongside supporting managers and employees across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide HR advice and support to employees and managers on performance, conduct, attendance, wellbeing and employee relations.
• Support and coach line managers on employee relations matters.
• Onboarding of new staff
• Monitoring and setting staff training
• Manage appraisals, performance reviews, absence management and RTW interviews.
• Maintain accurate employee records and ensure HR policies and procedures remain compliant with current legislation.
• Maintain and develop HR systems.
• Identify opportunities to digitalise, streamline and improve HR processes, systems and record keeping.
• Support the implementation of new HR technology and initiatives as the business continues to develop.
• Get involved in a range of exciting HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives, helping to shape and modernise the HR function.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives.

Key Requirements

• Previous experience ideally as HR Manager and ideally in a standalone environment, a professional services background would also be desirable.
• Strong knowledge of UK Employment Law and HR best practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confident handling sensitive and complex employee matters.
• Experience improving or digitalising HR systems and processes.
• A proactive and continuous‑improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to make HR more efficient and effective.

This role can be based at Skelton, Billingham or Spennymoor depending on your preference, with some local travel required.

If you are an experienced HR professional looking for a flexible, part‑time role within a growing business, with the opportunity to take ownership of HR and become involved in exciting projects, we would love to hear from you.