HR Manager

HR MANAGER – FOOD MANUFACTURING, EXETER;

Are you an experienced HR leader who thrives in fast‑paced, operationally demanding environments? Do you enjoy being a visible, hands‑on partner to senior stakeholders while shaping culture, driving performance, and enabling change?

This is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious food manufacturer and play a pivotal role in leading the people strategy.

As HR Manager, you will be a key member of the site leadership team, partnering with the General Manager and wider team to deliver a full HR remit. You’ll provide operational and strategic HR leadership across:

• Employee relations and trade union engagement
• Culture, engagement, and change initiatives
• Workforce planning, recruitment, and retention
• Training, development, and organisational capability
• HR governance, compliance, and audit requirements
• Site leadership influence and contribution to P&L discussions

You will lead and develop an on‑site HR team, modernising HR practices, strengthening team capability, and driving cultural transformation.

Site based.

• Proven HR leadership within food manufacturing or similar high‑volume, fast‑paced sectors (e.g., logistics, retail, FMCG)
• Strong background in employee relations and trade union negotiation
• Experience working within audit‑heavy, compliance‑driven environments
  
  Ability to influence senior leaders and operate confidently as part of a site leadership team
• Experience managing diverse work forces
• Comfortable delivering both strategic and hands‑on HR in an operational setting

• Resilient, pragmatic, and solutions‑focused
• Confident, collaborative, and not afraid to challenge or shape direction
• Able to navigate complexity and maintain momentum in demanding environments

NIGEL WRIGHT HR;

If you're an HR leader who enjoys pace, challenge, and the ability to make a genuine difference within UK food manufacturing, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Sue O’Donovan for more information.