Part Time HR Lead – Temporary

Vanilla Recruitment (UK) Ltd; Corby; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Job summary

Vanilla Recruitment (UK) Ltd is seeking an HR Manager on a temporary basis in Corby to own HR operations, including recruitment, payroll checks, employee relations and compliance. 2-3 days per week, immediate start, contract until December 2026, with free parking and on-site duties.

The role requires CIPD qualifications (or progress) and experience in HR management, preferably in the public sector, with strong payroll, advisory, and recruitment capabilities.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualification (or working towards).
• Experience in HR management, ideally in the public sector (school, NHS, local government).
• Strong discipline, capability and absence management experience.
• End-to-end recruitment experience including safer recruitment practices.
• Payroll administration experience using EPM or similar systems.
• Experience working with unions is advantageous.
• Strong interpersonal and coaching abilities to support managers.
• High-level IT skills and ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR operations in a standalone role, keeping policies up to date.
• Provide expert HR advice to Leadership Team on ER, absence, disciplinary matters.
• Maintain accurate personnel records and ensure statutory/audit compliance.
• Oversee the recruitment vetting process and SCR.
• Track absence and liaise with payroll and Finance.
• Act as main contact with external HR provider.
• Plan and deliver end-to-end recruitment including safer recruitment checks.
• Administer payroll changes in the EPM system and work with Finance.
• Submit monthly absence returns and monitor payroll data.

Skills

HR management

Employee relations

Payroll administration

Recruitment campaigns

Disciplinary & absence handling

Interpersonal coaching

IT literacy (Microsoft Office)

Education

CIPD qualification (or working towards)

Tools

EPM system

Microsoft Office

Job description

We’re looking for a people-first and process-savvy HR Manager on a temporary basis to take ownership of HR operations across recruitment, checking timesheets for payroll, employee relations and compliance.

• £19.87 per hour
• 2-3 days a week
• Immediate start – temporary contract until December 2026
• Free parking
• On-site based in Corby
• Current Enhanced DBS is essential

Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead all HR operations in a standalone role, ensuring policies and procedures are up-to-date and followed
• Provide expert HR advice to the Leadership Team on employee relations, absence, disciplinary, and capability matters
• Maintain accurate personnel records and ensure compliance with statutory and audit requirements
• Oversee the Single Central Record for recruitment and vetting checks
• Track and report staff absence, liaising with payroll and internal teams
• Act as the main contact with the external HR provider
• Offer guidance on personnel issues for all employees
• Plan and deliver end-to-end recruitment campaigns, including job descriptions, advertising, shortlisting, interviews, and safer recruitment checks
• Administer monthly payroll changes using the EPM system and work closely with Finance to ensure accuracy
• Submit monthly absence returns and monitor payroll data

Skills and experience required:

• CIPD qualified (or working towards)
• Proven experience in HR management ideally within the public sector (school, NHS, local government)
• Strong track record in handling disciplinary, capability, and absence management cases
• End-to-end recruitment experience, including safer recruitment practices
• Payroll administration experience (preferably using EPM or similar systems)
• Experience working with unions would be ideal
• Strong interpersonal and coaching abilities to support managers
• High-level administrative and IT skills (Microsoft Office)
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
• Confident working independently and collaboratively with senior leadership
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines