Job Description

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Description

Join our team as HR Manager and shape the future of our organisation!

Are you a people focused leader with a passion for building a positive workplace culture? We are seeking an experiences and dynamic HR Manager to join our organisation. As a strategic partner to leadership, you will play a key role in driving our people strategy, ensuring compliance, and supporting the professional growth and well-being of our employees.



You will lead all HR activity ensuring recruitment, employee relations, organisational development and policy development are managed effectively. This role helps create a clear understanding of expectations for staff and managers, supporting achievement of the college objectives and fostering a positive working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Staffing:

Lead the full recruitment cycle, from job posting and interviewing to onboarding new hires

Employee Relations:

Foster a respectful and inclusive workplace by managing employee relations, resolving conflicts, and advocating for both staff and management

Policy & Compliance:

Develop and update HR policies to reflect current laws and best practices. Ensure the organisation remains compliant with employment law.

Performance Management:

Oversee performance review processes and support employee development through constructive feedback, coaching, and mentoring.

Compensation & Benefits:

Design and administer competitive compensation and benefits programs to attract and retain employees

Training & Development:

Assess learning needs, coordinate training initiatives, and champion ongoing professional development for all staff members

Wellbeing:

Implement and monitor wellbeing activity to create a healthy work environment

Why join us?

Opportunity to shape company culture and drive positive change Opportunity to develop and embed the HR Business Partner model and develop HR brand Collaborative and supportive working environment Comprehensive benefits and competitive salary package Commitment t your professional growth and development
If you are ready to make a meaning impact as a HR Manager, we would love to hear from you!



For an informal chat about the role, please email Lisa Woodman, Executive Director, People, Culture and Wellbeing -

lisa.woodman@hopwood.ac.uk

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Duties

Team Management

To build, develop and effectively manage the HR team to ensure all staff are trained and supported in meeting their role requirements and working in line with college policy, employment law and other regulations To ensure that Operational HR activities are carried out effectively and accurately To manage the Occupational Health service overseeing the activities of the OH Advisor in improving employee health, wellbeing and attendance To work closely with the Payroll and Pensions Officer to ensure that payroll is completed accurately and timely.

HR Strategy and development

Implement all elements of the HR Strategy meeting the required performance measures, implementing initiatives and fully embedding across the College To develop the employer brand, raising the profile of the College as an employer of choice As policy owner develop and review HR policies and procedures in line with employment law, best practice and the College's strategic intentions. Communicate policy updates and train staff to maintain consistency and compliance. Campion continuous development To lead on the development and delivery of the college training and development plan achieving best value from the training and development budget and analyse its impact and effectiveness in driving forward high performance To produce relevant and informative management information and reports for governors, SLT and college managers. Leading on the team's production of the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) Develop effective performance management leading to a high-performance culture, coaching managers on best practice Working with the Health and Wellbeing group contribute to the implementation of the health and wellbeing strategy To lead on employee engagement activities and develop internal communication Contribute to setting College pay scales through negotiation and benchmarking, working in line with College strategies

Management support

Provide professional HR advice and guidance to Managers and employees, supporting Managers in dealing with complex HR matters To advise and consult with the Senior Leadership Team on all people-related issues To contribute to the achievement of outstanding leadership and management across the college, coaching managers to develop their people management skills To support College management with workforce planning and headcount, ensuring that the budgeted workforce establishment is maintained and any recruitment authorised To contribute to the effective management of the people elements of organisational change Deliver training to the Wider Management team as required Support with Recruitment activity I.e. sitting on panels as required

Employee Relations

Be an advocate for management and staff, responding to grievances, mediating disputes, and encouraging open communication. Nurture trust and transparency to help cultivate a respectful and inclusive environment Promote good employee relations through regular liaison with trade union representatives. Act as Secretary for the JNC meetings including preparation of agenda, attendance at meetings and note taking Support the team with complex employee relations cases Support with conflict resolution and early conciliation

Technology/HR System/Data

Develop and implement innovative ways of using technology within HR activity Ensure the HR System is fully utilised with accurate data and contribute to system good practice and development Analyse HR data, monitoring trends and reporting as required

Other

Contribute to the College's EDI approach by being a part of the EDI steering group and working with the EDI Manager on implementing initiatives to promote EDI across the college Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge of self and team to ensure the College is at the forefront of HR initiatives and good practice through attendance at events, webinars, training, networking and wider reading etc Encourage all the team to proactively share knowledge, learning and insights Support wider college events and curriculum teams as required I.e. interview skills training with students Any other duties of a similar level of responsibility as required



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Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

Essential Criteria CIPD Qualification and current membership

How Identified:

Application

Desirable Criteria

Degree in a HR or Business-related subject

How Identified

: Application

Experience

Essential Criteria

Broad experience of generalist human resource management (minimum of 3 years) Experience in coaching and supporting Managers and using a wide range of HR techniques to achieve high performance Experience in implementing organisational change Experience in implementing HR initiatives across an organisation Experience in managing a payroll function

How Identified

: Application Form / Interview

Desirable Criteria

Previous experience of managing a HR team Worked in a unionised environment

How Identified

: Application Form / Interview

Specialist Knowledge

Essential Criteria

Sound knowledge of employment legislation and the application of HR best practice Knowledge and delivery of management development

How Identified

: Application Form / Interview

IT Skills

Essential Criteria

Intermediate user of Microsoft applications Ability to use technology to generate information and improve efficiency

How Identified

: Application

Desirable Criteria

Experience of using HR systems (implementation of a new system would be of benefit)

How Identified

: Application###

About Hopwood Hall

We are a Further Education College and University Centre offering a range of full and part time courses employing over 600 staff on our campuses in Rochdale and Middleton situated to the north-east of Manchester. Both campuses have ample free parking and subsidised restaurants.



We offer staff a range of benefits including free gym membership at our Middleton Sports Arena and generous holiday entitlement.

We are committed to being a great place to work and have membership status of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. We are a Living Wage employer and an accredited Disability Confident Employer. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion statement is designed to ensure that unfair discrimination does not take place in any part of our recruitment process.



We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and colleagues and we expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. The college complies with Safer Recruitment guidance in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and all successful applicants are required to undertake a DBS check and other pre-recruitment checks in line with our Safer Recruitment policy. It is an offence to apply for a regulated role at the College if you are barred from working with children (or vulnerable adults if in a role where this applies).

STAFF BENEFITS

Working at Hopwood Hall College comes with a wide range of benefits including generous holiday and sick pay entitlements.

Other benefits include:

Career average pension scheme Free gym membership at our Middleton Campus Sports Arena Purchase loans for computers and bikes Staff discount at the College's Riverside Salon, Sports Arena and Holiday Clubs On-site nursery (Rochdale Campus) Credit union for savings, low cost loans and life assurance Free on-site parking On-site Dog Kennels (spaces not guaranteed) An electric and hybrid car salary sacrifice scheme (with charging points on site) A cycle to work scheme Discounted public transport tickets Generous holiday entitlement (Teaching staff: 53 days, Business Support staff: 28 days plus bank holidays Christmas/New Year closure and the opportunity to buy additional holidays) * Subsidised bistro and refectory