Group People Manager

£60,000-£70,000 + discretionary bonus - Potential permanent opportunity
5 Days a week - City of London

I am working with an exciting and growing business to appoint a hands-on HR professional to lead the people agenda across the organisation.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced HR generalist who enjoys being close to the business and wants genuine ownership of the HR function. Working directly with the Chief of Staff and leadership team, you will act as a trusted HR adviser, providing pragmatic advice and helping to shape and implement the people strategy.

As the sole HR lead, you will have the opportunity to build HR in your own way, putting robust processes, systems and best practice in place while supporting the business through its next stage of growth.

The Role

You will take responsibility for the full employee lifecycle, from workforce planning and recruitment through to onboarding, development, employee relations and offboarding.

• Develop and implement the HR strategy alongside the Chief of Staff and leadership team
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders
• Provide concise HR reporting at Board level
• Lead the implementation of a new HR system and introduce AI tools, beginning with mapping and improving processes across recruitment, onboarding, training, performance, career development and offboarding
• Own the end-to-end recruitment process, including workforce planning, job descriptions and advertising, agency and job board management, shortlisting, interviewing and offers
• Ensure all pre-employment checks, including right to work, references and relevant background checks, are completed appropriately
• Create a consistent onboarding and induction experience, ensuring contracts, equipment, system access and first-week plans are in place from day one
• Provide advice across conduct, capability, grievances, absence and flexible working
• Manage formal processes through to resolution in line with the ACAS Code of Practice, using external employment law advice where appropriate
• Oversee absence, family leave, occupational health, probation, performance management and appraisals, ensuring processes are completed consistently and on time
• Support organisational change, including planning and communication, while managing the people impact, resistance and conflict that can come with change
• Develop and maintain HR policies, contracts, the employee handbook and HR documentation, ensuring these remain legally compliant and up to date
• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant HR records and systems
• Responsibility for monthly payroll inputs, HR reporting across areas such as headcount, turnover, absence and recruitment, and management of HR suppliers including recruitment agencies, payroll, benefits and training providers
• Support training and development, engagement and wellbeing initiatives, alongside managing the full offboarding process