HR Operations Manager

zendbox

Whetsted

On-site

GBP 45,000 - 65,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Company pension

Employee benefits platform

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Career development

Job summary

Zendbox, a fast-growing eCommerce fulfilment and distribution business in Kent, seeks an experienced HR Operations Manager. You will lead the people strategy at the Kent HQ, oversee the full employee lifecycle from recruitment through to performance, wellbeing and retention, and partner with senior leadership to align HR practices with business objectives.

You will set direction, make decisions, manage absence using Bradford Factor, and coach managers to handle ER and performance matters.

Qualifications

Proven experience as an HR Manager or senior HR generalist in an SME environment.
Strong generalist background across ER, absence management, recruitment, L&D and engagement.
Commercial mindset with ability to align people strategy to business needs.
Confident, decisive and able to hit the ground running.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day HR activities and ensure effective people processes.
Lead on ER matters including investigations, disciplinaries and grievances.
Design and own absence management framework across the business.
Provide board reports on HR metrics and drive accountability.
Oversee end-to-end recruitment and onboarding.
Ensure HR policies and compliance with employment law.
Develop and deliver training for line managers.
Drive wellbeing initiatives and manage employee benefits.

Skills

HR leadership

ER & absence mgmt

Recruitment & onboarding

Performance mgmt

Manager development

HR analytics

Wellbeing & benefits

Tools

Bradford Factor

Job description

Zendbox is a fast-growing, tech-led eCommerce fulfilment and distribution business in Kent. We help ambitious brands scale by delivering smart, reliable warehousing and logistics solutions - and we’re now looking for an experienced HR Operations Manager to support our next stage of growth.

About the Role

We’re looking for a confident, hands-on HR Operations Manager to lead and develop our people strategy at our Kent HQ. This is a true blend of strategic and operational HR in a fast-paced distribution environment, overseeing the full employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to performance, wellbeing, absence management and retention.

You’ll need to hit the ground running: setting direction quickly, making clear decisions, taking ownership of absence management (including use of the Bradford Factor) and giving managers the support and challenge they need to deliver.

You’ll work closely with senior leadership to ensure our people practices directly support business objectives, while creating a culture that enables our teams to thrive.

Key Responsibilities

HR Leadership (Operational Focus)

Oversee day to day HR activities to ensure effective people processes across the business
Support managers with organisational changes, staffing needs and people related decisions
Contribute to initiatives that improve culture, engagement and team performance

Employee Relations (ER) & Absence Management

Lead on all ER matters including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances and policy updates
Design and own a robust absence management framework across the business
Use tools such as the Bradford Factor to monitor sickness and identify trends
Support and coach line managers to confidently manage attendance, conduct return-to-work meetings and follow through on formal processes where needed
Act as a trusted advisor to managers on complex people issues

Board Reporting & Metrics

Provide regular reports on key HR metrics including turnover, absence, engagement, ER activity, recruitment and DEI
Use data to demonstrate impact, support planning and drive accountability across the business

Recruitment & Onboarding

Oversee end-to-end recruitment and employer branding strategy
Work at pace to attract and secure the right talent for a fast-moving distribution environment
Streamline and enhance onboarding processes for a seamless employee experience

Compliance

Ensure HR policies, processes and practices are legally compliant and up to date
Keep the business informed and prepared for changes in employment law and HR best practice
Oversee right-to-work checks, data protection compliance (GDPR), and all statutory reporting

Manager Development & Training

Develop and deliver training and support to build confident, capable line managers
Equip managers to handle ER, performance and absence matters consistently and effectively
Promote values-based leadership across the business

Performance & Development

Design and manage effective performance management frameworks
Foster a culture of regular feedback, growth and accountability

Wellbeing & Benefits

Lead wellbeing and mental health initiatives
Manage and optimise employee benefits to support attraction and retention

Proven experience as an HR Manager or senior HR generalist in an SME environment (essential)

Strong generalist background with hands‑on expertise across ER, absence management, recruitment, L&D and engagement

Confident and decisive, with the ability to hit the ground running and make clear, pragmatic decisions

Commercially minded, with the ability to align people strategy with business needs

Skilled in coaching, influencing and supporting leaders at all levels

A practical, solutions-focused approach and ability to work autonomously

Familiarity with distribution, logistics, warehousing or other fast‑paced operational environments (experience with eCommerce fulfilment businesses like Zendbox is highly beneficial)

Comfortable using HR data and metrics (including Bradford Factor or similar tools) to drive action