HR Manager (Business Partnering)

HR Operations Manager/Business Partner

12-month Fixed term Contract (with possibility of permanent appointment)

Salary to £58,000 per annum

Macildowie are delighted to be supporting a not-for-profit organisation in Leicester with the appointment of an experienced HR Operations Manager on a fixed-term contract.

This is a senior, hands-on HR leadership role offering the opportunity to make a genuine impact during an important period of transition. The successful individual will provide additional capacity across HR operations and business partnering, bringing structure, resilience and pragmatic people support while the organisation develops its future People operating model.

Working closely with the HR Director and senior leadership team, you will combine operational HR leadership with credible business partnering. You will lead and develop members of the HR team, provide advice on complex employee relations matters, coach managers and senior stakeholders, and ensure key areas such as recruitment, payroll, employee lifecycle and core HR processes continue to operate effectively.

There is also significant scope to improve how HR operates. You will help identify opportunities to strengthen ownership, handovers and processes, reduce key-person dependency and ensure managers are better equipped to take ownership of people matters. Alongside the immediate operational priorities, you will contribute practical insight into the future People operating model, organisation design and wider change activity.

Key responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership across core HR operations, ensuring priorities, workload, risks and handovers are effectively managed.
• Line manage, coach and develop HR operational team members, creating clear expectations around ownership, service delivery and accountability.
• Partner with senior leaders and managers on complex people matters, workforce planning, team effectiveness and employee relations.
• Provide pragmatic and balanced advice on performance, conduct, absence, grievance and disciplinary matters.
• Coach managers to deal with people issues confidently and consistently, supporting greater management accountability.
• Ensure key HR processes covering recruitment, payroll, benefits, employee lifecycle and HR administration have appropriate ownership and controls.
• Review and improve HR policies and procedures, ensuring they remain current and aligned with employment legislation, including forthcoming Employment Rights Act changes.
• Identify and manage people risks arising from casework, contractor arrangements, policy gaps and manager capability.
• Use HR data and operational insight to identify pressure points, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to delivery of the existing People roadmap and wider HR priorities.
• Provide practical insight into the development of the future People operating model, including what should sit within HR, with managers, through self-service, systems or external partners.
• Support the Interim CPO with the people implications of wider organisational design and change.

About you

You will be an experienced generalist HR professional with a strong combination of HR business partnering and operational HR experience. You will have a proven track record of managing complex employee relations matters and advising senior managers on people-related decisions.

You will also have experience leading, coaching or developing HR colleagues and will be comfortable providing structure and direction in an environment where priorities can change. Strong employment law knowledge, sound HR judgement and an ability to balance employee and organisational needs will be important.

We are looking for someone who is credible, calm and pragmatic, with the confidence to challenge constructively and the ability to turn ambiguity into clear, practical action. Experience of improving HR processes, using people data to identify risks and supporting organisational change will be particularly valuable.

CIPD membership or equivalent professional experience would be advantageous. Experience within a regulated, education, awarding, professional services, charity or similar environment would also be welcomed, as would exposure to payroll, HR systems, contractor/consultant arrangements, IR35 or future operating model design.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation at an interesting point in its development and have genuine influence over how HR operates in the future.

You will have direct access to the Interim CPO, exposure to senior stakeholders and the opportunity to shape both immediate improvements and longer-term People function design. Rather than simply maintaining existing processes, you will be expected to bring ideas, challenge constructively and leave the HR function more resilient and effective.

Macildowie is managing this appointment as the recruitment partner. The organisation and further details will be discussed confidentially with shortlisted candidates.

The organisation is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

If successful

You will be rewarded with an attractive salary and benefits package including hybrid working (1-2 days per week in the office), flexible working, 35-hour working week, generous pension scheme and a real possibility of a permanent post.