Senior People Leader

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc.; Irlam; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc. in the UK is seeking a Senior People Leader to support the Manchester (Irlam) and Doncaster sites, with regular onsite presence and weekly time at each location.

You will own the day‑to‑day execution of People processes and set how these processes are experienced by teams and leaders across functions. In a multi‑country environment, you will ensure local market realities and regulatory requirements are reflected in People practices across EMEA, partnering with

Responsibilities

• Execute onboarding and offboarding processes across teams and locations, ensuring a smooth, well‑coordinated experience
• Manage Workday transactions and workflow execution with accuracy and attention to detail
• Maintain team member records, documentation, and compliance requirements in alignment with established standards
• Respond to team member and leader inquiries, providing clear, timely, and practical guidance on policies and processes
• Support administrative People processes such as reimbursements and expense‑related coordination in alignment with established practices
• Support recruiting coordination, including opening requisitions, coordinating with recruiting teams, and assisting with interview scheduling or participation for front‑line roles
• Support visa and work authorization processes in partnership with corporate teams, ensuring documentation and tracking are maintained
• Ensure People processes are executed in alignment with local labor laws, practices, and cultural expectations

Job description

About Us

BW Packaging is driving performance at the intersection of people, technology, and customer care. As part of the privately held Barry-Wehmiller family, we unite a global team of packaging experts with a clear purpose: People Who Care, Building Solutions that Perform. We take on our customers’ toughest challenges as our own — delivering both innovative and enduring solutions that set the standard for value and performance. Our strength comes from our people and the power of our brands — trusted names in packaging that are known worldwide for engineering excellence, application expertise, and lifetime commitment to customer success. Truly Human Leadership guides our belief that exceptional business results and profound respect for people together provide the foundation of enduring success. We are committed to forging lasting partnerships with our customers, earning their trust through integrity, expertise, and execution. With our full range of packaging solutions and long term partnership and service, we help customers achieve operational excellence today while building the future of packaging together. Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

Job Description

This Senior People Leader role supports key UK sites, with the primary manufacturing sites located in Manchester (Irlam) and Doncaster. Due to the visibility needed in the role, regular onsite presence is required, including weekly time in each manufacturing site. Plays a critical role in how culture shows up in everyday interactions with team members, reinforcing care for people and the business through consistent follow‑through, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Owns the day‑to‑day execution of People processes and shapes how those processes are experienced by team members and leaders across teams, functions and locations. Ensures onboarding, offboarding, and core workflows run smoothly, accurately, and with clarity in moments that matter most to team members. Operates in a multi‑country environment, ensuring People practices reflect local market realities, cultural nuances, and regulatory requirements across EMEA. Serves as a trusted point of contact for questions, support, and guidance, building strong, trusted relationships through reliability, accessibility, and clear communication. Works closely with peers and leaders across multiple European countries, navigating cultural differences and aligning practices while respecting local context. Brings People programs to life by supporting rollout and adoption of People Capabilities & Enablement initiatives, translating established frameworks into practical application. Observes how processes and programs are experienced in real time, identifying patterns, gaps, and opportunities to improve. Strengthens alignment between how People practices are designed and how they are experienced across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

People Operations Execution

• Execute onboarding and offboarding processes across teams and locations, ensuring a smooth, well‑coordinated experience


• Manage Workday transactions and workflow execution with accuracy and attention to detail


• Maintain team member records, documentation, and compliance requirements in alignment with established standards


• Respond to team member and leader inquiries, providing clear, timely, and practical guidance on policies and processes


• Support administrative People processes such as reimbursements and expense‑related coordination in alignment with established practices


• Support recruiting coordination, including opening requisitions, coordinating with recruiting teams, and assisting with interview scheduling or participation for front‑line roles


• Support visa and work authorization processes in partnership with corporate teams, ensuring documentation and tracking are maintained


• Ensure People processes are executed in alignment with local labor laws, practices, and cultural expectations

Employee Relations & Coordination

• Partner with leaders to anticipate and address workforce challenges, advise on sensitive situations, including performance management, terminations, and organizational changes


• Manage intake and processing of employee relations questions and concerns with professionalism and discretion. Gather relevant information