HR Manager | Oxford | £50,000 - £55,000 + excellent benefits | Onsite (5 days) free parking

Hays are delighted to be working on a rare HR Manager opportunity to join a well-established organisation in Oxford, working closely with the Head of HR to deliver a high-quality, proactive HR service across a diverse workforce.

About the Role

This is a true HR Generalist role, combining day-to-day operational leadership of the team, leading on all aspects of the employee lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, policy and procedure updates and project support. Working closely with the Head of HR this role will help to shape the HR function for the future. This is a brand new role and would suit an established HR Manager that has worked in a small HR Function.

You'll take ownership of:

• Employee relations casework
• Recruitment oversight and delivery
• HR operational processes and service standards
• Supporting wider HR projects and system improvements

You'll also lead a small HR team, ensuring consistency, efficiency and high-quality service across the function.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, harassment and performance issues, ensuring a fair, consistent and legally compliant approach.
• Oversee absence management processes, including the monitoring and analysis of absence trends, supporting employee wellbeing initiatives and the effective management of long-term and short-term absence cases.
• Review and improve HR processes and workflows, implementing change where required, and develop Standard Operating Procedures and service standards to ensure the consistent delivery of HR services.
• Support the Head of HR with policy development, staff surveys, exit interview analysis and the implementation of HR initiatives, ensuring policies are applied consistently.
• Supervise the recruitment and selection process for support staff and academic appointments, providing advice and support to the HR team and ensuring all recruitment activity is managed in a professional and timely manner.
• Manage the appointment process from advertising through to onboarding, including participation in selection interviews, approval of offers and contracts, pre-employment checks, right to work, DBS and visa compliance, and staff induction.
• Oversee recruitment reporting and monitoring, including equality data, recruitment effectiveness, and the provision of advice on recruitment, right to work and employment compliance matters.
• Line manage a team of two, inspiring the team to be creative, seek excellence and take pride in their work.