HR Operations Manager

We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Operations Manager to join a dynamic site-based team. This is a key leadership role within Human Resources, offering the opportunity to influence people strategy, drive employee relations, and support operational excellence.
Reporting into the Head of HR, you will deliver a full spectrum of generalist HR support, with a strong focus on absence management, employee relations, and union engagement. You will also lead and develop a small HR team, ensuring high-quality and consistent HR service delivery.

Key Responsibilities
Absence Management

• Oversee and monitor employee absence, ensuring compliance with policies and legislation
• Partner with Occupational Health to manage long-term sickness cases
• Analyse absence trends and provide actionable insights to leadership
• Support managers with return-to-work processes and complex absence matters
• Lead ill-health dismissal and medical incapacity processes in line with best practice

Employee Relations

• Provide expert advice on disciplinary, grievance, and performance management issues
• Promote fair and consistent application of HR policies
• Proactively resolve conflicts and support a positive workplace culture

Union & Collective Bargaining

• Play a key role in collective bargaining activities
• Lead or support negotiations and consultations with union representatives
• Act as a primary HR contact at regular union forums
• Build strong, effective relationships between management and employee representatives

Generalist HR & Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop HR Advisors
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and talent initiatives
• Ensure accurate and confidential HR administration and record-keeping
• Contribute to policy development and HR improvement initiatives

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Produce monthly HR reports and provide insights to senior leadership
• Ensure data integrity and confidentiality
• Represent HR at senior management meetings, contributing to strategic discussions

About You
We are looking for a confident and experienced HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, operational environment.
You will bring:

• Proven experience in a generalist HR role, ideally within a unionised environment (Essential)
• Hands-on experience with collective bargaining and union engagement (Essential)
• Strong absence management expertise, including complex case handling (Essential)
• Experience leading or supervising HR team members
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities
• Ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Degree and/or CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent)
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• High levels of integrity and professionalism
• A collaborative and proactive approach
• A commitment to building positive working relationships across all levels
• A strong focus on health, safety, and wellbeing

Additional Information

• Site-based role  with occasional travel – 4 days on site and one day from home
• Involvement in senior leadership forums
• Opportunity to shape HR practices and support organisational success