Senior HR Advisor

Ultimate Performance; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading personal training organization based in Manchester is seeking a Senior HR Advisor (Employee Relations) to manage employee relations matters, ensuring consistency and compliance with HR practices. This role demands strong expertise in employee relations and performance management, requiring 3-5 years of relevant experience. The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment, coaching managers and contributing to HR strategies while building effective relationships within the team. The position offers various benefits including 25 vacation days, a pension scheme, and hybrid working options.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Electric vehicle scheme

Employee discounts on supplements and services

Personal Training discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Free fitness classes at Manchester gym

Hybrid working opportunities

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in HR with a focus on employee relations.
• Experience managing cases end-to-end.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations cases including grievances and performance issues.
• Support managers with performance management processes.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Performance management

HR operational compliance

Coaching managers

Strong judgment

Strong communication skills

Education

Degree or qualification in Human Resources

Job description

Who We Are

Ultimate Performance (U.P.) is the world’s largest globally scaled private personal training business,operatingacross multiple regions with a reputation for exceptional results, elite coaching, and a truly premium client experience. Backed by leading private equity firm Inflexion, we are a high‑performance, growth-focused organisation with a strong commercial foundation and international reach.

We are entering an exciting next phase of growth, with a clear ambition to significantly expand our global studio footprint over the coming years. This is a pivotal moment for the business and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of a truly international, performance‑driven brand.

The Opportunity

We have a rare opportunity within our People team for aSenior HR Advisor (Employee Relations)to play a key role in supporting our global people agenda, with a strong focus on employee relations, compliance, and manager capability.

This is not a passive or purely administrative HR role. Our HR teamoperatesas trusted people and business partners, working closely with leaders across the organisation to ensure people decisions are fair, robust, and commercially sound. You will support, coach, and at times appropriately challenge managers, bringing credibility, empathy, and strong judgement to complex situations.

This role offers genuine autonomy and trust. You will be empowered to manage your own workload and priorities, with the freedom to build strong, effective relationships with managers across the global business. It requires confidence, sound judgement, and the ability tooperateindependently while knowing when to escal or collaborate.

Reporting directly to the Head of HR, and with exposure to the Chief People Officer on wider initiatives, this role provides meaningful visibility and the opportunity to develop breadth alongside depth. You will take a hands‑on role in managing employee relations matters globally, supporting disciplinary processes, performance improvement plans, and terminations, while ensuring consistency and best practice across the business.

Alongside core employee relations responsibilities, you will work closely with the Learning & Development team to support manager capability initiatives. This will includeidentifyingcommon themes, risks, and development needsemergingfrom employee relations casework, contributing to the design of manager development programmes, and supporting the creation and delivery of practical, relevant training and upskilling initiatives.

You will work as part of a close‑knit, collaborative People team, with dedicated colleagues supporting onboarding, benefits administration, learning and development, recruitment, and health and safety. The team works closely with Payroll to ensure accuracy, compliance, and a seamless employee experience across the full employment lifecycle. Within this structure, you will have clear ownership of employee relations matters and will play a key role in ensuring that offboarding processes, including exits and terminations, are handled consistently, compliantly, and in line with best practice across alljurisdictions.

This is an excellent opportunity for aSenior HR Advisor with circa 3–5 years’ experiencewho is looking to deepen their ERexpertiseand progress toward an HR Business Partner or HR Manager role over time. As the business continues to scale globally, the scope and impact of this role will growaccordingly, offering genuine development, increased responsibility, and exposure to broader people strategy and leadership initiatives.

You will thrive if you enjoy pace, complexity, and working within a premium, performance‑led organisation that setshigh standardsand values pragmatic, commercially grounded HR support.

The Ideal You

You’llbring strong, practical experience across core HR disciplines, including:

• Proven employee relationsexpertise, with confidence managing cases end-to‑end
• Strong performancemanagement experience, both proactive and reactive
• Solid HR operational and compliance knowledge
• Experience supporting and coaching managers
• Sound judgement, with the ability to balance risk, fairness, and commercial outcomes
• Experience working in a fast‑paced, multi‑site or operational environment
• Confidence to build relationships and appropriately challenge upwards
• Comfortoperatingin ambiguity, with a pragmatic and commercially minded approach
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and debate constructively
• Exposure to international or cross‑border HR matters (desirable, not essential — support provided for more complexjurisdictions)
• A genuine interest in health, fitness, and wellbeing
• A degree or qualification in Human Resources or a related field (or working towards)

The Focus

The role will centre on employee relations, operational compliance, performance management, and learning & development, while ensuring alignment with global labour laws, local regulations, and internal frameworks, always balancing risk, performance, and culture.

For more on who we are and what we stand for, visit www.ultimateperformance.com

The Detail

1. Employee Relations & Case Management

• Act as the first point of contact for all employee relations matters across the gym estate
• Manage employee relations cases end-to‑end, including grievances, disciplinary actions, performance concerns, and absence management
• Ensure fair, consistent, and timely case management in line with company policy and best practice
• Maintain accurate case documentation and records
• Escalate complex or high‑risk cases appropriately
• Promote positive employee relations and a respectful workplace culture
• Adapt style and approach to local labor requirements and culture

2. Performance Management

• Support the delivery of performance management under the company’s structured framework (PT Check‑In)
• Coach Gym Managers on setting objectives, conducting monthly reviews, and addressing underperformance
• Provide guidance on improvement plans, capability processes, and outcomes
• Ensure performance processes are applied consistently and fairly across locations
• Support managers in developing high‑performing teams

3. Operational HR Compliance

• Ensure Personal Trainers (PTs) and Gym Managers follow corporate HR processes and policies
• Monitor compliance with contracts, working time requirements, and people processes
• Support audits and internal checks related to HR operations
• Identify risks and recommend corrective actions
• Support consistent application of process and policies across all gyms

4. Local Labour Relations & Legal Compliance

• Ensure gyms operate in compliance with local labour laws and employment regulations in each country
• Apply global HR standards while respecting local legal and cultural requirements
• Stay informed of changes in employment legislation and best practice
• Support managers with local labour relation issues and compliance queries
• Partner with external advisors where required

5. Business Partnering with Gym Managers

• Build strong, trusted relationships with Gym Managers and regional leaders
• Provide proactive HR support, guidance, and coaching
• Advise managers on people processes, policies, and decision‑making
• Translate business needs into practical HR solutions
• Support change initiatives and people‑related projects

6. Learning & Development

• Lead and support the internal Gym Manager (GM) Pathway programme
• Contribute to the design and development of learning materials and content
• Support delivery of training sessions, workshops, and development initiatives
• Work with stakeholders to identify development needs
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and growth

What we value

Results-Driven: You focus on outcomes that genuinely move the needle

Own It: You take full ownership, wins, failures, & everything in between.

Passion for Progress: You’re driven by growth, not just the finish line.

Supportive & Personalised: You adapt your approach because no two people (or challenges) are the same

What You’ll Get

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme: salary sacrifice with employer contributions
• Electric vehicle scheme
• Simply Health policy: claim back costs for dental, optical, physio, massage & more
• Exclusive UP discounts, including 40% off our supplements, books, and partner offers
• Personal Training discounts: up to 50% off our world‑class transformation programme (up to 36 sessions a year) for you and a loved one
• Salary sacrifice benefits: Cycle to Work, Tech, and Home schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme: free 24/7 mental health, counselling, and financial advice
• Free group fitness classes at our Manchester gym in Spinningfields
• Hybrid working: two days per week working from home

If you are interested in the Senior HR Advisor Rolewe’dlove to hear from you. Apply now!

All job applicants are required to have a valid right to work.

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