People Manager

Hireful; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A progressive HR consulting firm is seeking an experienced People Manager to work part-time for 16 months while the People Director is on maternity leave. This role is pivotal in supporting and advising management on HR strategies, enhancing employee engagement, and ensuring compliance with UK employment law. Candidates should have substantial HR experience, be CIPD qualified or have equivalent knowledge, and possess strong interpersonal skills. This position offers a competitive pro-rata salary and flexibility in working patterns.

Benefits

Flexibility in working pattern

Competitive pro-rata salary

Perkbox & discounts

Monthly company breakfast

Qualifications

• Experience as a People/HR Manager or in a similar senior HR role.
• Ability to balance compliance with a people-first approach.
• Capability to manage sensitive employee relations matters with care.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for all people-related inquiries.
• Partner with management to enhance team performance.
• Manage payroll and benefits accurately with external providers.
• Drive engagement and wellbeing initiatives for a thriving culture.

Skills

Understanding of UK employment law

Empathy and listening skills

Organizational skills

Ability to handle sensitive situations

Education

CIPD qualified (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience

Job description

About the Role

We’re looking for a warm, experienced People Manager to join us for 16 months on a part-time basis while our People Director is on maternity leave.

This is a standalone role where you’ll be the go-to person for everything people-related — from supporting our team day-to-day to advising management on people strategy. It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, values flexibility, and is confident in shaping and running a People function.

You’ll play a key role in making sure our team feels supported, engaged, and set up for success, while keeping our people processes running smoothly.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as the first point of contact for all things people-related, supporting our team with empathy and expertise.
• Partnering with managers and leaders to help them get the best out of their teams.
• Looking after the whole employee journey – from hiring and onboarding, to development, performance, and offboarding.
• Keeping us on track with employment law and best practice and updating policies when needed.
• Handling employee relations matters fairly and with care.
• Managing payroll and benefits in partnership with our external providers.
• Keeping our HR systems and records up to date and accurate.
• Driving engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion initiatives to keep our culture thriving.
• Leading on small people projects that make a real difference to our team’s experience.

About You

• You’ve worked as a People/HR Manager (or similar senior HR role) and are comfortable running things solo.
• You know your way around UK employment law and can balance compliance with a people-first approach.
• You’re approachable, a great listener, and able to build trust quickly.
• You’re confident making decisions and can handle sensitive situations with care.
• You enjoy both the hands-on and the strategic sides of HR.
• You’re organised, proactive, and happy juggling different priorities.
• Ideally CIPD qualified (Level 5 or above) or with equivalent experience.

What We Offer

• Flexibility: 32 hours per week, with some room to shape your working pattern.
• A welcoming team who value open communication and collaboration.
• The chance to make a big impact by leading our People function during this period.
• Competitive salary (pro rata) and benefits.
• Perkbox & discounts
• Monthly company breakfast & company incentives