UK & Ireland HR Lead - Strategy, Payroll & Experience

Geomatik; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Octave is seeking an experienced HR Leader to run the UK & Ireland HR function (circa 300 employees) in a hybrid setup. You will partner with leaders, drive HR initiatives, and act as the main HR contact for managers and staff across the region.

You will oversee onboarding, compensation, payroll, benefits, and data integrity in SAP SuccessFactors, while leading an HR team to deliver strong employee experiences and impactful people programs.

Qualifications

• Significant HR Generalist experience at a management level or similar.
• Strong knowledge of UK and Ireland employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience advising and influencing managers at all levels.
• Proven capability in employee relations, compensation and benefits, HR operations, and policy development.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proactive, solution-oriented with the confidence to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Previous people management experience or a passion for developing others.
• Experience supporting payroll.
• Strong knowledge of HR processes and HR documentation.
• Proficiency with SAP SuccessFactors is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage HR function across the UK and Ireland with 1 direct report.
• Work with HR Business Partners to align people strategies with business objectives.
• Act as trusted advisor on employee relations, employment legislation, HR policies, and best practice.
• Drive a positive employee experience across onboarding, compensation, ER, and offboarding.
• Oversee UK & Ireland benefits programmes, ensuring they’re competitive, compliant, and aligned to business needs.
• Coordinate with external providers and lead renewal activities with data, pension governance, and communications.
• Collaborate with Payroll to ensure accurate and timely submission of changes, pay, benefits and pension info.
• Ensure integrity of employee data within SAP SuccessFactors and drive HR system improvements.
• Support implementation of HR programmes, policies, and initiatives to enhance organisational effectiveness.
• Lead and develop one direct report and promote continuous improvement within the HR team.

Skills

HR Generalist

Employee relations

Payroll support

Stakeholder management

People management

HR policies

HR operations

Policy development

Education

CIPD Associate or higher HR Qualification

Tools

SAP SuccessFactors

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Octave is seeking an experienced HR Leader to run the UK & Ireland HR function (circa 300 employees) in a hybrid setup. You will partner with leaders, drive HR initiatives, and act as the main HR contact for managers and staff across the region.

You will oversee onboarding, compensation, payroll, benefits, and data integrity in SAP SuccessFactors, while leading an HR team to deliver strong employee experiences and impactful people programs.