Head of HR

Head of HR
GBP60,000 – GBP70,000 + GBP8,000–GBP10,000 Bonus + GBP6,750 Car Allowance
Nottinghamshire – 60% UK Travel, 40% Home–Based & Ad Hoc European Travel
Permanent & Full Time

SF Partners are delighted to be exclusively retained on an exciting Head of HR opportunity with a well established international engineering business that forms part of a larger global group. Employing approximately 400 people across the UK, the business sits within the wider Europe region, working closely with teams across Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

We're looking for a commercially minded HR leader who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex people challenges and is comfortable operating independently. You'll join the Senior Leadership Team and take ownership of the entire UK HR agenda, leading a close knit HR, Payroll and Talent team whilst partnering directly with the Managing Director. This is not a role for someone who likes structure, process and certainty.

You'll need the confidence to challenge, the resilience to revisit ideas when timing isn't right, and the ability to make sound decisions in a fast–moving environment where priorities can change quickly.

Key responsibilities:
– Lead the HR function across a 400–headcount UK business.
– Partner with the MD and SLT on people strategy, workforce planning and organisational development.
– Lead complex ER matters, settlement agreements, ACAS cases and employment tribunals in–house.
– Manage relationships with Unite and employee representatives, supporting a unionised workforce.
– Drive retention initiatives within a specialist engineering population where skills are in high demand.
– Lead and develop a team spanning HR, Payroll and Talent Acquisition.
– Oversee payroll, benefits and reward programmes, including insurance, wellbeing and life assurance renewals.
– Partner with European HR teams and shared service functions.
– Identify gaps, improve processes and strengthen areas of HR that have historically lacked focus or investment.
– Build strong relationships across the UK through regular travel and face–to–face engagement with employees and managers.

About you as a candidate:
– CIPD qualified
– Experienced in a senior HR leadership role within engineering, manufacturing, industrial or similarly operational environments
– Strong employee relations and industrial relations expertise
– Experience working within a unionised environment
– Comfortable managing risk, leading difficult conversations and making commercially balanced decisions
– Comfortable operating in the "grey" and finding solutions without constant direction
– Confident influencing stakeholders at all levels
– Happy travelling extensively across the UK to build credibility and relationships on–site.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious HR leader looking to make a genuine impact within a growing international organisation whilst enjoying significant autonomy and visibility at SLT level.

Candidates should be located within a reasonable commute of North Nottinghamshire and able to attend the office regularly.

1st stage interviews will commence via Teams from w/c 15th July.