People Manager

Folk Recruitment Limited; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Folk Recruitment Limited is seeking a commercially minded HR generalist for a professional services organisation. You’ll provide practical advice and fair people practices across the full employee lifecycle, reporting to the Head of People and managing an Advisor and Administrator.

You’ll lead complex employee relations, support managers with workforce planning and development, ensure legal compliance, and drive engagement and change across locations. Interviews in November for a January start.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent practical experience.
• At least five years’ HR generalist experience.
• Minimum of two years as a People Manager.
• Strong grounding in UK employment law and employee relations.
• Ability to influence managers and balance commercial priorities with employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Leading and advising on complex employee relations cases with sound judgement.
• Managing and developing the Advisor and Administrator.
• Partnering with managers on workforce planning, talent reviews and retention risks.
• Supporting annual pay reviews, benchmarking and benefits activity.
• Reviewing and implementing HR policies and manager guidance with the law in mind.
• Ensuring data protection, right-to-work, equality and governance compliance.
• Helping managers improve engagement, performance and employee experience.
• Supporting organisational change and growth across locations.
• Managing TUPE consultations and employee transfers when needed.
• Co-ordinating two-stage interviews in November for a January start.

Skills

People management

UK employment law

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Change management

Stakeholder influence

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Job description

We are recruiting on behalf of a professional services organisation seeking a commercially minded HR generalist who can combine practical advice with fair, consistent people practices. Reporting to the Head of People and line managing an Advisor and Administrator, you’ll help deliver a high-quality HR service across the full employee lifecycle.

This is a hands-on management role with breadth. Alongside supporting managers through sensitive casework, you’ll use people data and employee insight to improve processes, strengthen management capability and identify risks before they ESCALATE. The remit also includes acquisition due diligence, TUPE consultation and integration activity.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and advising on complex employee relations cases, including performance, capability, absence, disciplinary and grievance matters, with sound judgement and clear application of UK employment law.
• Managing and developing the Advisor and Administrator, supporting effective operational delivery and consistent advice.
• Partnering with managers on workforce and succession planning, talent reviews, career development, capability gaps and retention risks.
• Supporting annual pay reviews, benchmarking and benefits activity.
• Reviewing and implementing practical HR policies, procedures and manager guidance, keeping pace with employment law changes.
• Supporting compliance with data protection, right-to-work, equality and internal governance requirements, recognising when specialist advice or escalation is needed.
• Helping managers improve engagement, performance and employee experience, while contributing to leadership development, wellbeing, recognition and learning initiatives.
• Supporting communication through organisational change and growth, promoting inclusive, respectful practices across teams and locations.
• Assessing workforce structures, employment risks, contractual obligations, terms and conditions, employee relations issues and cultural considerations during acquisition due diligence.
• Managing and coordinating TUPE consultations and employee transfers, monitoring integration progress and recommending corrective action where needed.

What you’ll bring

You’ll need CIPD Level 5 or equivalent practical experience, alongside at least five years’ HR generalist experience, including a minimum of two years as a People Manager within a fast-growing SME, small corporate or professional environment where priorities move quickly.

A strong grounding in UK employment law and employee relations is essential, as is the ability to lead and develop People team colleagues. You’ll be comfortable influencing managers, explaining risk clearly and finding workable solutions that balance commercial priorities with employee experience.

Strong communication, analytical and problem-solving skills will help you turn recurring casework themes, engagement feedback and people data into useful action. Curiosity, initiative and a collaborative approach matter, together with the judgement to know when to act independently and when to seek further advice.

Experience of organisational change, restructuring, M&A or integration would be advantageous.

For an experienced People Manager who enjoys both resolving immediate challenges and improving how an organisation manages its people, this role offers a broad and challenging remit.

Interviews (a 2-stage process) will take place through November, with a view to the successful candidate starting in January.