Human Resources Manager

Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Surrey | Hybrid Working, 2 days per week on site | up to £75,000 + Benefits

We are supporting a large, multi-site organisation in the search for an experienced HR Manager to join on a fixed-term basis.

Operating within a complex, unionised environment, this role will provide both strategic and operational HR leadership across a geographically dispersed workforce. With responsibility for supporting multiple sites across the UK, you will partner closely with senior operational leaders, helping to navigate employee relations challenges, organisational change and workforce planning within a predominantly blue-collar setting.

This is an excellent opportunity for a credible HR professional who is comfortable working across multiple locations, building strong relationships with operational stakeholders and trade union representatives, and providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Business Partnering

• Partner with operational and functional leaders to deliver people plans aligned to business objectives.
• Provide expert advice on workforce challenges, organisational effectiveness and people-related risk.
• Support workforce planning, capability building and succession initiatives.
• Use data and insight to support decision-making and drive business performance.

Employee Relations & Industrial Relations

• Lead on complex employee relations matters across multiple sites.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with recognised trade unions and employee representatives.
• Support collective consultation processes, negotiations and wider industrial relations activity.
• Ensure employment law compliance and the consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Provide balanced, pragmatic advice that supports both business requirements and positive employee outcomes.

Change & Transformation

• Support and lead organisational change programmes, restructures and consultation exercises.
• Work closely with leaders to implement organisational design and workforce transformation initiatives.
• Coach and develop managers to strengthen leadership capability and employee engagement.
• Contribute to talent development and succession planning activities.

HR Leadership

• Act as a senior member of the HR team, providing guidance and support to colleagues.
• Lead HR projects that enhance organisational effectiveness and employee experience.
• Ensure continuity and stability throughout the duration of the contract.

You will be an experienced HR professional with a strong track record of operating within complex, unionised organisations.

You are likely to bring:

• Significant HR leadership experience within a blue-collar, operational environment.
• Experience working across multi-site operations with regular travel to locations across the UK.
• Strong industrial relations expertise, including union engagement, collective consultation and negotiation.
• A proven ability to manage complex employee relations issues with confidence and credibility.
• Experience supporting organisational change and transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at senior level.
• A pragmatic, commercially focused approach and the ability to balance business and people priorities.
• CIPD qualification

What’s on Offer?

• A genuine HR leadership role within a large, operationally focused organisation.
• Exposure to a complex industrial relations agenda and a sizeable unionised workforce.
• The opportunity to influence business decisions and support senior stakeholders across multiple sites.
• A collaborative HR team and established people function.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working with regular travel across the UK.

Interested? If you have experience leading HR within unionised, multi-site, blue-collar environments and enjoy partnering closely with operational leaders to deliver practical people solutions, we would welcome a confidential conversation.