People Manager

pirate.com; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative studio in Bristol is looking for a People Manager to enhance the employee experience and develop effective HR strategies. You will lead recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and employee relations while collaborating closely with Site Managers. The ideal candidate will have strong HR generalist experience, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a proactive mindset for driving positive change. Offers include hybrid working, competitive salary, generous leave policies, and various wellness benefits.

Benefits

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Paid volunteering days

Fully paid sick leave

Family-friendly leave

Income protection

Life insurance

Private dental care

Qualifications

• Experience in HR at Advisor, Manager, or Business Partner level.
• Ability to support the full employee lifecycle.
• Familiarity with US, German, and Irish employment law is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment and onboarding processes to reflect company values.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing and enhance employee experience.
• Manage apprenticeship programs and monitor learner progress.

Skills

End-to-end HR generalist experience

Stakeholder management

People-centred mindset

Recruitment and onboarding practices

Payroll administration

Organizational skills

Confidence with HR systems

Interest in AI and automation

Proactive approach

Experience with apprenticeship programs

Education

HR-related qualification

Job description

At Pirate Studios, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Working within the People team, you’ll lead with that same mindset - translating the care, creativity and attention we give our customers into how we support our most important audience: our people. Every decision you make, from how we attract talent to how we support growth and wellbeing, will be guided by the belief that when our people feel valued, listened to and empowered, they deliver exceptional experiences for our customers in return.

As People Manager, you’ll be a visible and trusted presence across the business, partnering closely with Site Managers and teams across multiple locations. From day one, you’ll focus on building strong relationships, listening to what our people need, and turning insight into practical, people‑first solutions that enable teams to thrive.

You’ll take ownership of the employee journey end to end. This includes leading the evolution of our recruitment practices - from attracting the right talent, to creating selection processes that reflect Pirate’s values and creativity, and designing onboarding experiences that help new starters feel connected, confident and part of the Pirate story from day one. Exploring and potentially implementing a new applicant tracking system and a career site will be a key part of this journey, helping make recruitment more efficient, inclusive and engaging.

Our HR systems are already strong and embedded, and you’ll ensure they continue to deliver value through continuous automation whilst providing managers and the People team with insight that informs decisions and enhances the employee experience.

You’ll also take responsibility for processing fully automated payroll across the UK with potential to work on payroll in Ireland, Germany and the US. No prior payroll knowledge is required, training and support will be provided, but you’ll ensure all colleagues are paid accurately and on time, helping maintain trust and confidence across the business.

Day to day, you’ll work alongside managers to support performance, employee relations, development and engagement, coaching them to lead with clarity, fairness and confidence. You’ll bring consistency to our people practices, improving policies, contracts and processes in line with the New Employment Rights Act 2025 so they are clear, modern and fit for a growing, multi‑site business, while still allowing space for individuality and local culture.

In addition, you’ll manage our apprenticeship programmes end to end. This includes overseeing funding, monitoring learners progress, and conducting regular check‑ins with apprentices and their line managers to ensure learning goals are on track.

This role also offers real opportunity to shape the future. Working closely with the People Director, you’ll help deliver people strategies that support Pirate’s growth and ambition. You’ll use insight, feedback and data to drive meaningful change, strengthen retention and build a positive, high‑performance culture where people feel proud to work.

Ultimately, this is a role about impact. Your work will be felt not just in systems or policies, but in how it feels to work at Pirate every day and in turn, in the experiences our customers have in our studios.

Who you are

This isn’t your typical HR job. I’m looking for someone forward‑thinking and brave enough to challenge how things are done – including challenging me – while working in true partnership and bringing others with them through trust, empathy and thoughtful diplomacy.

You’re a people‑focused HR professional who genuinely believes that great employee experiences create great customer experiences. You build trust easily, enjoy being visible and present, and are at your best when working closely with managers and teams on the ground.

We’re a small team of two, so you’ll need to be comfortable rolling your sleeves up and managing the administrative side of recruitment, including offer letters, contracts of employment and other related documentation.

You’re comfortable taking ownership, whether that’s leading recruitment and onboarding, managing payroll, improving systems and processes, or guiding managers through complex people matters. You balance empathy with clarity, and you’re confident making decisions while always staying true to your values.

You care about detail, but never lose sight of the bigger picture: creating an environment where people can do their best work and feel supported as individuals. Above all, you believe in purpose‑led work and want to play a meaningful role in shaping a culture that reflects Pirate’s creativity, care and ambition.

What you’ll bring

• Strong end‑to‑end HR generalist experience, gained at Advisor, Manager or Business Partner level, with the confidence to support the full employee lifecycle in a fast‑paced, multi‑site environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and partner effectively with managers and leaders at all levels.
• A people‑centred, customer‑first mindset, with the ability to translate organisational values into meaningful employee experiences.
• Proven experience leading and evolving recruitment and onboarding practices, with a focus on candidate experience, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Experience administering payroll and employee benefits, ensuring accuracy, consistency and compliance.
• Strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, including experience managing payroll and Employer of Record (EOR) platforms.
• Confidence working with HR systems and people data, using insight to improve processes, inform decision‑making and drive consistency across the business.
• An interest in, or practical experience of, using AI and automation within HR, with curiosity around how emerging tools can improve efficiency, insight and employee experience.
• A proactive, forward‑thinking approach, with the curiosity and confidence to challenge how things are done and drive positive change.
• Experience designing, launching and evaluating development programmes, including apprenticeships (desirable).
• Exposure to, or working knowledge of, US, German and Irish employment law would be beneficial.

What you’ll get

• Hybrid working: based in our Bristol office two to three days a week, with flexible working requests very welcome.
• Salary: £45,000 per annum, based on 37.5 hours per week.
• Flexi Fridays, giving you a little extra breathing space at the end of the week.
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Duvet days, because sometimes rest really is the most productive thing.
• Work from anywhere for up to 30 days a year.
• Two paid volunteering days each year to support causes that matter to you.
• Four weeks of fully paid sick leave, because your health comes first.
• Family‑friendly leave, including six months of fully paid maternity and adoption leave, and eight weeks of fully paid paternity leave.
• Paid time off for fertility treatment, recognising that life doesn’t always fit around work.
• One week of fully paid compassionate leave when you need it most.
• Income protection for added peace of mind.
• Critical illness cover to support you through the unexpected.
• Life insurance
• Private dental care as part of your benefits package.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Nursery Benefit scheme
• Access to the Yulife app- including 24/7 Virtual GP & EAP

We are aiming to fill this role promptly, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.