We currently have an opportunity for a Human Resources Manager
About KNDS UK:
With over a century of engineering expertise and innovation, KNDS UK is a renowned world leader in rapidly deployable military bridging systems and a key partner in the UK MoD’s Boxer armoured vehicle programme.
We are proud of our heritage and our reputation of providing the highest quality engineering solutions for over 100 years. As a trusted partner to military customers around the world, our employees are the very heart of our company. We have a skilled and experienced workforce dedicated to achieving excellence in all areas of the business such as Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management and Business Support functions.
As our business evolves, we are looking to strengthen our workforce with talented and motivated individuals across a range of disciplines and currently have this opportunity available.
About the role:
The primary purpose of this role is to manage the HR function and team to deliver an exceptional people service across the business, ensuring the function and team provide a professional, proactive and forward-thinking HR service which supports operational needs in a unionised manufacturing environment, ensuring all HR Operations and Recruitment activities are carried out correctly, robustly and efficiently in line with Company policies, procedures and employment legislation.
Key duties include, but are not limited to:
· Provide day-to-day leadership and management of the HR team ensuring delivery of an excellent and accurate HR service throughout the employee lifecycle.
· Act as a role model for the HR team, supporting, coaching and developing team members to ensure an excellent level of performance, encouraging, supporting and facilitating growth and realisation of potential.
· Set clear objectives, priorities and standards for the HR Operations and Recruitment functions; monitor and evaluate performance against these objectives and identify ways of improving service levels and effectiveness.
· Ensure the HR Operations function is structured and resourced appropriately to meet current and future business needs, including allocation of work, cover arrangements and succession planning within the team.
· Support the Head of HR and wider HR team with the preparation and collation of Company communications, including posting information on internal Company notice boards and platforms.
· Provide expert advice, guidance and support to managers and the HR team on complex
· Employee Relations cases (e.g. disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, capability,
· performance management, flexible working and appeals), ensuring cases are handled
· professionally, consistently and promptly.
· Take ownership of the most complex and/or high-risk ER cases, working closely with the Head of HR and relevant Line Managers to ensure fair, robust and legally compliant outcomes.
· Provide leadership and oversight of the Talent Acquisition function to ensure recruitment activities are aligned with the Recruitment Plan and operational workforce planning.
· Ensure the HR Administration function undertakes all HR administration and co-ordination activities efficiently and accurately to support the HR team and function.
· Oversee the maintenance and integrity of HR data within HR systems (e.g. ADP) and standalone systems, ensuring information is accurate, up to date and compliant with GDPR and other legislative standards.
· Ensure there is an effective first point of contact for HR queries, including management of the HR inbox, with clear processes for triaging, allocating and escalating queries to relevant HR team members as required.
What we’re looking for:
Candidates must have the following essential qualifications and experience:
· Minimum of grade C in English and Maths at GCSE or equivalent.
· CIPD qualified to Level 5, or CIPD Level 3 with substantial, directly relevant HR management experience.
The following are desirable:
· CIPD qualified (or working towards) CIPD Level 7.
· Possess a Degree in Human Resources or a similar relevant level of education.
· Additional qualifications in Recruitment/Talent Acquisition or Leadership/Management.
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills and aptitudes:
· Significant experience in an Operational HR role, including responsibility for HR administration and Employee Relations, preferably in a Manufacturing or similar unionised environment.
· Proven experience operating at Senior HR Advisor / HR Operations Manager level or equivalent, with responsibility for leading on complex ER cases from informal stages through to appeal hearings.
· Strong Employee Relations background with demonstrable experience of managing disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, sickness absence and flexible working cases.
· Sound and up-to-date understanding of UK employment legislation and HR best practice, including in a unionised context.
· Experience of successfully leading and managing an HR team, including performance management, coaching and development.
· Experience working in a unionised environment, including engagement with Trade Union representatives.
· Experience of working closely with or managing a recruitment/Talent Acquisition function, with good understanding of end-to-end recruitment processes, ATS usage and candidate experience.
· Experience of using HR and recruitment data to develop reports, provide detailed analysis and present findings to managers and senior leaders.
Why you should join us:
When you become part of the KNDS UK team, you will enjoy employee benefits such as:
· Competitive salary
· Attractive pension (4% employee contribution, 7% employer contribution)
· Half-day Friday
· Life assurance scheme
· Company sick pay scheme which increases with service
· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
· Additional Holidays & Long Service rewards
· Wellbeing initiatives, such as Free Fruit on Tuesday’s
· Cycle-to-work Scheme
· Free on-site car parking
· On-site electric vehicle charging points
We’re also very proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant since 2018, achieving their Silver Award in 2020 and Gold Award in 2024. We actively support and encourage service leavers, reservists and cadets to join our team, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.
If you are passionate about Human Resources and eager to contribute to a thriving workplace environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Recruiters please note that we have a list of approved recruitment agency partners in place and we will contact agencies directly should we require support. Any unsolicited CV’s received via an agency will be accepted with thanks but without fee.
Pay: From £50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Transport links
- Work from home
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Stockport SK4 5DY: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- What Level CIPD Qualification do you hold?
- Do you have experience within a Unionised Manufacturing environment?
- How many years experience do you have working in an operational HR role?
- How many years experience do you have with complex Employee Relations?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
