Human Resources Manager

Pooky Lighting; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pooky Lighting is seeking a senior HR leader to drive the People function across the UK, US and India. You will coach managers, oversee payroll and ER casework, and lead capability building while ensuring compliant processes throughout the employee lifecycle.

This role requires strong CIPD credentials, at least 5 years of HR generalist experience, and experience across multi-site operations. Travel to showrooms and occasional USA/India visits are expected.

Qualifications

• Solid HR generalist experience (5+ years) with some team leadership and ER casework.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification required; Level 7 desirable or in progress.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations and cross-border jurisdictions is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional leadership and coaching to the HR Administrator & Advisor and the Payroll Administrator, setting clear priorities and standards.
• Oversee end-to-end employee lifecycle across UK sites, showrooms and warehouse, and US team; recruitment, onboarding through to contract closure.
• Audit payroll and HR data for accuracy and compliance across territories; provide reporting and insights.
• Advise line managers on ER casework; resolve issues where possible and escalate significant matters to Head of People.
• Lead organisational change, job design, learning & development and EDI initiatives across the business.

Skills

HR generalist

Team leadership

Employee relations

Numeracy

Data reporting

Education

CIPD Level 5

CIPD Level 7 (desirable)

Tools

PeopleHR

Access Group

MS Office

Excel

Job description

Contract:

12 Months

Key Responsibilities

Functional Leadership & Management

Functional Delivery

Provide functional guidance, coaching and support the HR Administrator & Advisor and the Payroll Administrator, setting clear priorities and standards and providing cover for key tasks during absence.

Capability Building

Coach the team to deliver an accurate, timely and people-focused HR and payroll service, sharing knowledge and building resilience across the People team.

Escalation Point

Act as the first point of escalation for complex HR and payroll queries, resolving what you can and referring wider or higher-risk matters to the Head of People.

Recruitment & Employee Life Cycle

End-to-End Life Cycle

Support the complete employee lifecycle across the UK multi-site offices, showrooms and warehouse, and the US team, ensuring processes from recruitment and onboarding through to contract closure are accurate, compliant and effective.

Recruitment

Coordinate with recruitment lead (HR Assistant & Advisor) to ensure vacancies are managed effectively. with hiring managers and third-party partners, overseeing adverts, offers, contracts and right-to-work / eligibility checks.

Systems & Data

Audit the integrity of HR and payroll systems, ensuring accurate records and providing meaningful people data, reporting and insight.

Employee Relations & Casework

Casework

Manage long-term and complex employee relations casework across the UK and US – including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability, performance and flexible-working matters – ensuring fair, consistent and legally sound outcomes.

Manager Coaching

Advise and coach line managers across all sites on employee life cycle events and day-to-day people issues, building their confidence and consistency.

Risk Management

Identify and manage ER risk, keeping the Head of People informed of significant or sensitive matters and supporting any settlement or tribunal activity.

Organisational Change, Job Design, EDI & Learning & Development

Organisational Change

Support and deliver organisational change and restructure activity, from planning and impact assessment through to implementation and embedding.

Consultation

Manage individual and collective consultation processes fairly, sensitively and in line with legal requirements across the respective territories.

Job Design

Lead job design, role evaluation and the drafting of job descriptions to keep roles clear, consistent and fit for a growing business.

Learning & Development

Design, coordinate and deliver training and development activity across the business, building capability, supporting people through their roles and helping them prepare for their future careers.

EDI

Champion Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, embedding inclusive practice across the employee life cycle and supporting related initiatives and reporting.

Audit Payroll Process

Review the payroll process and records for accuracy and completeness to ensure accurate and timely payment of employees across all territories, acting as an auditing point and resolving escalated pay queries.

Benefits

Lead the existing benefits and recognition schemes, including the pension plan and identifying and recommendation development opportunities in the benefit package.

Pay Review & Annual bonus

support the annual review of pay and awarding of company bonus.

Policy, Compliance & Projects

Policy & Procedures

Apply, maintain and help develop HR policies, procedures and the employee handbook across the UK, US and India, keeping them current and compliant.

Multi-Jurisdiction Compliance

Provide assurance on compliance with employment/labour laws across the UK, US and Indian businesses, implementing best practice and escalating material changes to the Head of People.

India Oversight

Provide functional HR support and light-touch oversight to the two India businesses – partnering with the in-house HR team at the business that has one and providing more hands-on support to the business that does not.

Projects

Support and deliver People projects and process improvements, including systems, audits, onboarding design and training administration

The summary of main duties & responsibilities is not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks performed. You may be required to undertake additional duties as are necessary to promote the smooth and efficient running of the business.

Qualifications & Experience

Experience

Solid HR generalist experience (typically 5+ years), including some team leadership and hands-on employee relations casework.

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualified as a minimum; CIPD Level 7 (or working towards it) is desirable.

Employee Relations

Confident managing a varied ER caseload and coaching line managers to a fair and consistent standard.

Multi-Site

Experience of supporting a multi-sited business (offices, retail / showrooms and / or warehouse) is highly desirable.

International Exposure

Exposure to HR across more than one jurisdiction (US and / or India) is an advantage.

Systems & Numeracy

Strong working knowledge of HR and payroll systems (e.g. PeopleHR, Access Group) and confident with MS Office, particularly Excel; numerate, methodical and accurate.

Confidentiality

Discreet and trusted with highly confidential information, well organised and calm under pressure.

Willingness to travel to UK Showrooms and occasionally to the USA and India as required.