HR Manager (Standalone)

The Talent World; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Health benefits

Training opportunities

Employment law support

Job summary

The Talent World is seeking an experienced HR Manager to take sole responsibility for the people function in Chester. You will balance strategic HR planning with hands-on delivery, acting as the principal HR contact for around 80 employees and guiding managers on policies and UK employment law.

You will own HR operations, payroll administration, recruitment, compliance and employee engagement, while shaping practical people plans to strengthen management capability and drive the organisation

Qualifications

• Previous experience as an HR Manager or in a comparable senior generalist HR role.
• Experience managing a standalone HR function or the ability to work independently.
• Strong practical employee relations and case-management experience.
• Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Confidence managing disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, consultation and dismissal processes.
• Ability to balance strategic HR projects with operational duties.
• Experience creating HR processes and practical people plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisation, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Confidence using HR systems, employee data and spreadsheets.
• Experience preparing payroll information.
• A CIPD qualification or equivalent professional experience, ideally.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations matters, including absence, disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, consultation and dismissal cases
• Advise and coach managers on HR policies, procedures and UK employment law
• Prepare clear and accurate employee relations documentation
• Develop and deliver a practical people plan aligned with organisational priorities
• Maintain HR policies, templates and the Employee Handbook
• Coordinate recruitment, contracts, onboarding and induction
• Manage pre-employment and right-to-work checks
• Monitor probation reviews, performance appraisals and mandatory training
• Maintain accurate employee records, HR data and compliance information
• Prepare monthly information for the outsourced payroll provider
• Support pension, benefits and payroll queries
• Lead employee engagement, recognition and internal communication activities
• Produce management information covering headcount, absence, turnover, recruitment and training
• Support consultations, restructures and wider organisational change
• Improve employee retention, attendance, workplace behaviours and management capability

Skills

Standalone HR function

HR generalist

Employee relations

UK employment law

Disciplinary & grievances

Strategic HR

Payroll administration

HR systems & data

Communication skills

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent

Job description

HR Manager (Standalone) - Chester

Salary: £40,000-£45,000, depending on experience

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Working pattern: Hybrid - three days per week in the Chester office

An established and growing organisation in Chester is seeking an experienced HR Manager to take sole responsibility for its people function.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished HR generalist with strong employee relations experience to combine strategic HR planning with hands‑on operational delivery.

As the principal HR contact for approximately 80 employees, you will provide commercially focused advice to managers while managing HR operations, payroll administration, recruitment, compliance and employee engagement.

The organisation is entering an important stage of its development, giving you the opportunity to improve processes, strengthen management capability and shape a practical people plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations matters, including absence, disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, consultation and dismissal cases


• Advise and coach managers on HR policies, procedures and UK employment law


• Prepare clear and accurate employee relations documentation


• Develop and deliver a practical people plan aligned with organisational priorities


• Maintain HR policies, templates and the Employee Handbook


• Coordinate recruitment, contracts, onboarding and induction


• Manage pre-employment and right-to-work checks


• Monitor probation reviews, performance appraisals and mandatory training


• Maintain accurate employee records, HR data and compliance information


• Prepare monthly information for the outsourced payroll provider


• Support pension, benefits and payroll queries


• Lead employee engagement, recognition and internal communication activities


• Produce management information covering headcount, absence, turnover, recruitment and training


• Support consultations, restructures and wider organisational change


• Improve employee retention, attendance, workplace behaviours and management capability

Skills and Experience

• Previous experience as an HR Manager or in a comparable senior generalist HR role


• Experience managing a standalone HR function or the ability to work independently


• Strong practical employee relations and case-management experience


• Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice


• Confidence managing disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, consultation and dismissal processes


• Ability to balance strategic HR projects with operational duties


• Experience creating HR processes and practical people plans


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Strong organisation, accuracy and attention to detail


• Confidence using HR systems, employee data and spreadsheets


• Experience preparing payroll information


• A CIPD qualification or equivalent professional experience, ideally

Benefits

• Salary of £40,000-£45,000, depending on experience


• Five weeks’ annual leave plus eight bank holidays


• Hybrid working, with three days per week in the Chester office


• Company pension scheme


• Health and employee discount benefits


• Relevant professional training


• Access to specialist employment law support


• The opportunity to shape and develop the people function