Head of Human Resources - Hybrid - Manchester

Head of Human Resources (UK) - International BrandLocation: Manchester (Hybrid – 3 days in / 2 days remote)

Salary: Up to £75,000 per annum + £6,000 Car Allowance

Benefits: 25 Days Annual Leave (+ Bank Holidays & Birthday Off), 3% Pension Contribution, Private Medical Insurance, Critical Life Insurance and Income Protection

Position: Permanent, Full-Time

The Role

This is a pivotal senior leadership role within our client's Extended Management Team, reporting directly to the HR Director. This vacancy presents a unique opportunity to join a highly successful international brand that is expanding its UK portfolio, which already consists of over 100 centres. Operating within a highly regulated sector, this position is critical in ensuring compliance, service quality, and operational excellence across the entire estate.

As the Head of Human Resources, you will ensure the HR function is seamless, collaborative, and highly accessible across all regional operations and the Central Support Centre. You will champion the daily journey of our workforce by leading critical teams, including Shared Services, Payroll, the Employee Helpdesk, Internal Communications, CSR, and corporate people support. Working alongside peers in Talent and Operations, you will build a connected HR infrastructure that simplifies processes, enhances communication, and allows operational leaders to focus entirely on service excellence and team development.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic HR Leadership

• Direct the HR function to deliver a consistent, trusted service across corporate and regional operations.
• Establish clear service standards and priorities that align with the wider business strategy and company values.
• Coach and develop department managers to foster high performance and strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Partner with senior HR peers to ensure the department operates as one cohesive unit.

Service Excellence & Process Optimisation

• Oversee the critical employee touchpoints that teams rely on daily, including payroll, administration, and HR information systems.
• Utilise data, feedback, and workforce insights to simplify ways of working and eliminate recurring operational friction.
• Implement clear resolution pathways and escalation routes to handle enquiries efficiently.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that build employee trust and protect management time across all business sites.

Internal Communications, CSR & Engagement

• Shape the internal communications framework to deliver timely, transparent, and engaging business updates.
• Manage the timing and flow of company-wide messages to prevent information overload and maximise impact.
• Tailor messaging effectively to suit diverse operational audiences and central support teams.
• Steer environmental, social, and sustainability initiatives, linking CSR strategy directly to company purpose and community impact.
• Facilitate authentic two-way feedback channels to capture employee sentiment and support executive decision-making.

Corporate & Central Partnering

• Provide senior oversight for dedicated HR business partnering across corporate departments and central business functions.
• Deliver commercially astute advice to Heads of Department regarding team effectiveness, organisational change, and performance management.
• Maintain an agile partnering model that resolves routine matters quickly without unnecessary bureaucratic escalation.
• Define clear boundaries and workflows between central support and specialist employee relations teams.

Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance

• Apply a deep understanding of employment law, employee relations, and sector-specific compliance to mitigate business risk effectively.
• Minimise administrative burdens on frontline operational managers, enabling them to focus entirely on regulatory compliance and high-quality service delivery.
• Collaborate with leaders across Finance, Technology, Transformation, and Commercial sectors to improve the overall employee journey.
• Contribute actively to departmental budgeting, resource planning, and high-level decision-making.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Proven track record in a senior HR leadership role managing multi-site, service-driven operations.
• Sector Background: Exposure to a highly regulated industry (e.g., healthcare, childcare, hospitality, retail, or logistics) is essential.
• Scale: Experience operating within an organisation of significant scale (ideally 100+ sites/centres).
• Leadership: Strong background in managing multi-disciplinary teams, specifically Shared Services and Internal Communications.
• Skills: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence executive stakeholders and manage complex change.
• Knowledge: Robust expertise in UK employment law, employee relations, and HR systems optimisation.