HR Manager

• Strong advisory and coaching capability, enabling managers to develop their people leadership skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work proactively.
• High levels of integrity, confidentiality, and professional judgement.
• HR policy, employment law, and procedural knowledge.
• Competent in recruitment processes, interview techniques, and candidate assessment.
• Process improvement mindset with experience building or refining HR tools or systems.
• Strong written communication skills, including the creation of HR documentation and business reports.

• CIPD Level 5 (desirable).
• If not currently held, IES will fund and support the successful candidate to complete this qualification.
• Demonstrable experience in a generalist HR role with responsibility across the full HR lifecycle.
• Experience supporting or leading recruitment activities in a fast‑paced, operational environment.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience implementing or managing HR systems and document control processes.

The HR Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the people agenda across IES Utilities Group. This role blends operational HR excellence with strategic development, covering three key areas:

1. HR Administration & People Systems - building and maintaining a robust and efficient HR information and document repository, enabling a strategic and compliant people framework that supports the business as it scales.
2. Recruitment & Resourcing - providing recruitment expertise and hands‑on support to ensure IES attracts, assesses, and appoints the best talent across the group.
3. HR Manager Leadership - leading the full spectrum of HR disciplines including people strategy, performance management, employee relations, workforce planning, wellbeing, talent management, and organisational development.

The HR Manager will act as a trusted partner to leaders across the business, ensuring IES has the right people, processes, and capability to deliver on its operational and strategic goals.

• Build, implement, and maintain a centralised HR repository, ensuring all HR policies, templates, and people records are controlled, current, and compliant.
• Develop and maintain a structured HR information system (HRIS) to support employee lifecycle processes, reporting, and analytics.
• Ensure HR processes (onboarding, HR letters, contracts, absence, performance documentation, change‑of‑status workflows) are efficient, standardised, and auditable.
• Maintain accurate records in line with GDPR and employment legislation, ensuring appropriate retention and disposal schedules.
• Continually improve HR systems, tools, and processes to support scalability, consistency, and high-quality people management.
• Lead the end‑to‑end recruitment process for IES, from role scoping and advertising through to offers and onboarding.
• Partner with hiring managers to develop accurate job descriptions, role briefs, and recruitment strategies.
• Manage direct sourcing channels (LinkedIn, job boards, referrals) to reduce reliance on agencies.
• Advise managers on interviewing, assessment methods, and selection decisions.
• Build a talent pipeline for critical roles and support future workforce planning.
• Ensure inclusive, fair, and compliant recruitment practices aligned with IES values.
• Act as the day‑to‑day HR expert for managers, providing guidance across all HR matters.
• Manage employee relations including disciplinary, grievance, capability, and performance cases-ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Lead the annual performance management process, including objective setting, reviews, and coaching for managers.
• Support development of the organisational people strategy and contribute to business planning discussions.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning and talent management activities.
• Drive wellbeing initiatives, engagement activities, and cultural development.
• Support organisational change initiatives such as restructures, TUPE, and workforce transitions.
• Provide HR data, analysis, and insight to senior leadership.
• Ensure HR practices meet employment law, best practice, and internal governance standards.

Job Title: HR Manager
Reporting to: HR Director
Location: Manchester (with travel to sites as required)