Hays
Senior HR Business Partner

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Your New Company
Hays HR is delighted to be supporting a highly successful and long-established manufacturing organisation in the appointment of a Senior HR Business Partner.
With over a century of heritage, a UK workforce of approximately 500 employees and an established international presence, this organisation continues to achieve sustained growth year after year. Operating within a fast-paced manufacturing environment, the business is known for its commitment to quality, operational excellence and long-serving workforce. The HR function is embarking on an exciting period of development, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious HR professional seeking both challenge and progression.
Your New Role
Reporting directly to the Head of HR, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the people agenda across the business. This is a highly visible role requiring a commercially minded HR professional who can build credibility with stakeholders, influence decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
Working across multiple sites (2/3), you will partner with managers and directors to deliver pragmatic HR solutions whilst ensuring the business remains compliant, effective and future-focused.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Acting as a trusted HR Business Partner to managers and leaders across the organisation.
- Managing complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence management cases.
- Leading all aspects of recruitment and talent acquisition activity, including workforce planning.
- Driving process improvement initiatives to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the HR function.
- Developing, reviewing and enhancing HR policies and procedures to ensure best practice and legal compliance.
- Managing HR systems, processes and reporting, ensuring data integrity and meaningful people insights.
- Supporting the ongoing optimisation of recently implemented HR technology and identifying future system improvements.
- Managing and developing a Senior HR Administrator whilst leading improvements across the wider HR administration function.
- Supporting learning and development initiatives, apprenticeships and succession planning activities.
- Managing occupational health processes to maximise attendance, wellbeing and operational effectiveness.
- Working collaboratively with union representatives and key stakeholders across operational sites.
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This role offers significant scope for progression and would suit an ambitious HR professional. The organisation is committed to succession planning and is seeking an individual with the capability and ambition to develop into a senior leadership role over the coming years.
What You'll Need to Succeed
- Proven HR Business Partner experience, in a generalist role.
- Strong employee relations knowledge and experience managing complex cases.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills. (Essential)
- Strong HR systems and HRIS capability, with a keen interest in maximising the value of technology and people data.
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with HR metrics.
- The confidence to challenge appropriately and influence at all levels.
- A proactive, resilient and collaborative approach.
- Experience working within operational, engineering or manufacturing environments. (desirable).
- Experience working in a unionised environment (desirable).


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The organisation is seeking someone who can build credibility quickly, work confidently with experienced managers and help evolve existing practices while respecting an established culture and way of working.
What You'll Get in Return
- Salary of £46,500 plus £2,500 car allowance
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Auto-enrolment pension scheme
- Genuine career progression opportunities within a growing international business
- Exposure to senior leadership and strategic HR initiatives.
What You Need to Do Now
If you're an ambitious HR professional looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact whilst developing towards a future leadership position, apply now or contact Hays HR for a confidential discussion.
Please note: A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential, as the role requires regular travel between 2 sites in North Manchester and very occasional travel further afield.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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