Senior Human Resources Manager

James Andrews Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Hereford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established UK manufacturing organisation in Hereford is seeking a Senior HR Manager to lead the site-based HR function at a complex, unionised operation. This senior, hands-on role pays c£90k and carries full accountability for HR delivery, team leadership, and partnership with site leadership and a wider European HR structure.

Reporting into the Site General Manager with a dotted line to a European HR lead, you will oversee end-to-end HR on site, lead a small HR team and advise Directors

Qualifications

• Experienced HR generalist with strong background in operational or manufacturing environments.
• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience leading and developing HR teams.
• Ability to influence senior leaders with professional credibility.
• Resilient, pragmatic approach with the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure.
• Strong communication, coaching and change management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the on-site HR team to deliver a high-quality, value-added HR service.
• Act as the senior HR advisor on all people matters, including employee relations, performance management, absence, disciplinaries and grievances.
• Operate confidently within a unionised environment, including engagement, consultation, mediation and arbitration.
• Drive talent management activity including succession planning, recruitment, and development.
• Partner with site leadership on organisational change, engagement and cultural improvement.
• Ensuring full compliance with UK employment law, internal policies and wider corporate governance requirements.
• Ownership of the site HR budget, workforce planning and headcount forecasting.
• Oversight of occupational health provision and close working with HSE on health, safety and wellbeing matters.
• Regular reporting on HR metrics and performance to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Unionised environment

UK employment law

People management

Job description

An established UK manufacturing organisation is seeking a Senior HR Manager to lead the Hereford site-based HR function at a complex, unionised operation. This is a senior, hands‑on role paying c£90k, with full accountability for HR delivery, team leadership, and strategic partnership with site leadership and a wider European HR structure.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR leader who thrives in operational environments and is confident operating at senior leadership level while remaining close to day‑to‑day people matters.

Reporting into the Site General Manager with a dotted line to a European HR lead, you will have full responsibility for the end‑to‑end HR function on site, leading a small HR team and acting as a trusted advisor to Directors and senior managers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the on-site HR team to deliver a high-quality, value‑added HR service
• Acting as the senior HR advisor on all people matters, including employee relations, performance management, absence, disciplinaries and grievances
• Operating confidently within a unionised environment, including engagement, consultation, mediation and arbitration
• Driving talent management activity including succession planning, recruitment, and development
• Partnering with site leadership on organisational change, engagement and cultural improvement
• Ensuring full compliance with UK employment law, internal policies and wider corporate governance requirements
• Ownership of the site HR budget, workforce planning and headcount forecasting
• Oversight of occupational health provision and close working with HSE on health, safety and wellbeing matters
• Regular reporting on HR metrics and performance to senior stakeholders

About You

• You will be an experienced HR generalist with a strong background in operational or manufacturing environments.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role
• Proven capability operating in a unionised setting
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience leading and developing HR teams
• Confidence influencing and challenging senior leaders with professional credibility
• A resilient, pragmatic approach with the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure
• Strong communication, coaching and change management skills

Please note that you require recent experience to apply for this role.