HR Operations Manager

Hertsmere Borough Council; Borehamwood; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 - 32 days annual leave

Flexi-leave

Free gym membership

Cycle schemes

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Hertsmere Borough Council is seeking an experienced HR professional to join the Human Resources team in a senior operational leadership role. Reporting to the Head of HR, you will coordinate the delivery of the HR service and support managers and staff across the Council.

You will handle complex employee relations casework, provide professional HR advice to senior managers, and lead on workload distribution, service resilience, and office cover to keep the service operating smoothly.

Qualifications

• Strong background in employee relations, case management, and providing professional HR advice to senior managers in a complex organisation.
• Local Government experience would be ideal, but is not essential.
• You will have direct line management responsibilities and oversee workload distribution and office cover to ensure service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional oversight and direction on complex employee relations casework, managing a personal caseload of high-risk and sensitive matters.
• Support and guide colleagues in the management of theirs.
• Oversee workload distribution, service resilience, and office cover arrangements to ensure efficient operation of the HR service.

Skills

Employee relations

Case management

HR advisory

Leadership

Communication

People management

Job description

We are looking for an experienced HR professional to join our Human Resources team in a senior operational leadership role. Reporting to the Head of HR, you will coordinate the delivery of the HR service, ensuring effective support to managers and employees across the Council.

You will have a strong background in employee relations, case management, and providing professional HR advice to senior managers in a complex organisation. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership and communication skills, together with the ability to build effective working relationships and manage competing priorities. Local Government experience would be ideal, but is not essential.

As a key member of the HR team, you will provide professional oversight and direction on complex employee relations casework, maintaining your own caseload of high-risk and sensitive matters where needed while supporting and guiding colleagues in the management of theirs. The role will have direct line management responsibilities, overseeing workload distribution, service resilience, and office cover arrangements to ensure the efficient operation of the service.

Working closely with the Head of HR, you will support the delivery of the Council’s People Strategy and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) priorities, contributing to organisational change and workforce planning. You will also deputise for the Head of HR as required.

The post is offered on a full time, permanent basis (36 hours per week).

Benefits include:

• 27 - 32 days annual leave (depending on length of Local Gvt Service) - plus all bank holidays
• Flexi-leave (opportunity to accrue extra work time that can be taken off later as extra leave - up to 2 days per month)
• Free gym membership
• Cycle schemes (Cycle to Work Scheme and free Beryl Bike rides for staff)
• Employee Assistance Programme

The Council operates a hybrid working system where employees may work up to three days per week from home, depending on department requirements.

Closing date: Monday 17th August 2026, 10am