Head of HR

Reporting To:

Sam Middleton

Business Units Director

Department:

Operations

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 2 days in the Manchester office

The Head of HR will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the people function within the Group. This includes overseeing recruitment, talent development, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and ensuring the Group’s HR policies and practices align with overall business objectives. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s people strategy, driving employee engagement, and ensuring that we attract, develop, and retain top talent in the digital marketing industry.

Duties and Responsibilities:

HR strategy and leadership:

• Develop and implement HR strategies that support the Group’s vision, mission, and growth objectives.
• Partner with the Group’s Board Members and Senior Management team, providing expert advice on people-related topics, ensuring alignment between people practices and business goals.
• Drive initiatives to enhance employee engagement, retention and productivity.
• Leader of the Commercial and Office Manager to ensure all HR administration tasks are executed accurately and timely. 

Talent acquisition and recruitment:

• Oversee and manage the recruitment process to attract top talent, ensuring a diverse and inclusive hiring strategy.
• Actively build a talent pipeline to ensure the business has contingency. 
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with recruitment agencies and other talent networks.
• Ensure the agency is positioned as an employer of choice within the digital marketing industry.

Employee engagement and culture:

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture that supports employee engagement and retention.
• Design and implement employee engagement programs, including recognition, feedback, and team-building initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to employees and leadership on all matters related to company culture, employee relations, and well-being.

Performance management and development:

• Lead the development of performance excellence to drive accountability, feedback, and employee development.
• Implement training and development initiatives to enhance the skills and capabilities of staff.
• Support line managers with succession planning and carrying out skills gap analysis.
• Promote a continuous learning environment and career progression opportunities for employees.

Compensation and benefits:

• Oversee compensation and benefits schemes to ensure they are competitive, fair, and aligned with industry standards.
• Manage payroll, bonuses, and benefits administration in accordance with UK regulations.
• Conduct annual reviews of compensation packages to ensure market competitiveness.

Compliance and best practice:

• Ensure that all HR practices and processes comply with UK employment law and relevant regulations.
• Stay updated on HR trends, best practices, and legal requirements, incorporating these into the agency’s policies and procedures.
• Highlight potential risks with employment law updates and options to mitigate or minimise disruption to the business.
• Manage the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, disciplinary processes, and exits.

HR systems and reporting:

• Oversee HR systems and technology to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Develop and maintain key HR metrics to monitor and report on key people data; performance, turnover, engagement, and other relevant data.

Senior Management Team Responsibilities:

• Executing business strategy and operational decisions as directed by the Board.
• Ensure SMT priorities are aligned to overall board priorities.
• Nimbleness -quick thinking, agile and adaptable.  Ability to adjust to changing/challenging circumstances. 
• Challenge each others thinking.
• Peer review all recommendations before they are brought to the board for approval.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of UK employment law and best practices.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Experience in driving culture change and managing employee engagement initiatives.
• A strategic thinker who can align HR initiatives with the agency’s long-term goals.
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, and emotional intelligence.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• You will demonstrate our Company values in your day to day interactions with team members and clients.
• Interpersonal skills – Clear and effective communicator. Provide feedback. Ability to actively listen to team members building trust. Resolve conflicts.