People Operations & Staffing Manager

Compass Group PLC; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider in the United Kingdom seeks a People Operations & Staffing Manager to oversee staffing operations and recruitment. The position involves developing casual staff frameworks, ensuring compliance with HR policies, and enhancing employee experience. Candidates should have at least 2 years of relevant experience, organizational skills, and an understanding of recruitment processes in the hospitality sector. This is a full-time, permanent role based at RHS Garden Wisley, offering a competitive salary and a positive workplace culture.

Benefits

20 days annual leave

On-site discounts

Access to training and development

Qualifications

• At least 2 years' experience in a similar role, ideally in people operations or recruitment.
• Experience in contract catering is a plus.
• Exposure to recruitment ATS is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a scalable pool of casual staff.
• Implement strategies to minimize reliance on agency staff.
• Oversee the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with legal requirements and HR policies.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to work under pressure

Knowledge of recruitment processes

Job description

Salary: Up to £32,000 per annum
Location: RHS Garden Wisley
Contract type: Full‑time, permanent, site based, 5 days over 7 days per week

What Can We Offer You

• Collaborative and inclusive culture where your ideas are valued and creativity encouraged.
• The chance to work in a truly beautiful and inspiring setting, surrounded by nature and stunning gardens.
• 20 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays and national holiday days).
• Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
• Perks for Works discounts and promotions.
• Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
• On‑site F&B discounts.
• No shortage of delicious food!

About The Role

We are looking for an upbeat and driven individual with a strong sense of integrity and a collaborative mindset to join us as our People Operations & Staffing Manager. You will lead the day‑to‑day staffing operations of the site, handle all recruitment activity to ensure the best talent is attracted and nurtured, and serve as the first line point of contact for any HR related cases, under the guidance of the Senior People Operations Manager and Head of HR. You will be passionate about creating a positive working environment and delivering best‑in‑class recruitment and onboarding experiences, committed to operational excellence and enhancing employee experience at every stage of the lifecycle. Although this role is site based, you will be part of a wider People Operations team delivering the same goal – ensuring top‑notch people support is always available.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a scalable, flexible pool of casual staff to meet operational demands.
• Implement strategies to minimise reliance on agency staff while maintaining service quality.
• Collaborate with operations and L&D teams to engage, retain and develop casual workers effectively.
• Introduce consistent systems for booking, performance tracking and communication with casual staff.
• Monitor usage, cost and effectiveness of the casual workforce and report on key metrics.
• Oversee the end‑to‑end recruitment lifecycle, ensuring efficient and inclusive hiring practices and focusing on the employee experience.
• Ensure compliance with all legal requirements, including Right to Work and Equality legislation.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to deliver tailored recruitment support and guidance.
• Maintain oversight of all recruitment metrics and provide reporting and insights to the leadership team.
• Ensure rigorous compliance with all HR policies, procedures and employment legislation.
• Oversee pre‑employment checks, onboarding documentation and system entries to maintain audit readiness.
• Provide guidance and training to managers on policy adherence and fair employment practices.
• Conduct regular audits to identify and address risks, gaps or inconsistencies in HR operations.
• Ensure documentation and employee records are maintained in accordance with GDPR and company standards.
• Oversee the administration of probationary review meetings, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
• Ensure completion of exit interviews within the patch and analyse trends to present to Senior People Operations Manager and Head of HR.

About You

• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role – some experience within people operations and/or recruitment is essential.
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities based on the needs of the business.
• Understanding of the hospitality and events culture – experience in contract catering would be a plus.
• Knowledge of recruitment processes and exposure to recruitment ATS.

About Us

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high‑quality dining in London and New York. Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum and Whipsnade Zoo, among many more. In these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large‑scale ground events of up to 1,000 people. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work, with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams and a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability‑led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.