People Manager, HR​/Recruitment

People Manager

(Office based- CT2 and CT6 Postcode area)

Contract:

Permanent Contract

Company:
Active Life Ltd

Salary: £40,000

Hours:

Full-time

Location:

Canterbury, CT2 7PH

Working pattern:
On-site

Job type:
Permanent

Posting date: 5 Aug 2026

Closing date: 1 Sept 2026

Are you a proactive, people focused HR professional who wants to shape a positive workplace culture and make a meaningful impact? We're looking for a People Manager to take full ownership of our people function and help strengthen the long term sustainability of our organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys having oversight of the entire employee lifecycle and wants to build a people centred function within a purpose driven charity. As our sole People specialist, you'll combine strategic thinking with hands on delivery, ensuring our people practices are supportive, compliant, and aligned with our values.

You'll work closely with our Senior Management Team, line managers, and employees across the organisation, providing clear, practical guidance and helping to create a positive, engaging, and supportive working environment.

• Lead on recruitment from job design through to onboarding.
• Ensure new starters feel welcomed and supported through effective induction.
• Manage contracts, right to work checks, and personnel records.
• Coordinate offboarding, including exit interviews and knowledge transfer.

• Provide confident, practical advice on performance, conduct, absence, and wellbeing.
• Support managers with employee relations issues in line with policy and best practice.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for staff, offering guidance with professionalism and discretion.

• Keep HR policies up to date, legally compliant, and fit for purpose.
• Maintain accurate HR records and ensure GDPR compliance.
• Monitor sickness, leave, and attendance, providing insights to management.
• Support safeguarding compliance and safer recruitment practices.

• Lead on employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives.
• Coordinate training and development opportunities.
• Support managers to strengthen their people management capability.
• Help embed our organisational values into everyday practice.

• Provide workforce insights to support planning and decision making.
• Lead HR projects that improve efficiency and organisational capability.
• Support organisational change processes, ensuring staff feel informed and supported.

• Significant experience across the full employee lifecycle, ideally as a standalone HR/People professional.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience developing and improving HR processes, systems, and policies.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build trust at all levels.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload.
• High levels of integrity, confidentiality, and emotional intelligence.
• A proactive, solutions focused approach and the ability to work effectively in a small team.

• CIPD Level 5 (or above) or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in a charity or not for profit environment.
• Confidence using digital HR systems and adopting new tools.
• Interest in wellbeing, organisational culture, or staff development.

If you are a confident, hands on people professional who enjoys variety and wants to make a meaningful difference, we would love to hear from you.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme