Strategic HR Partner -Minded SMEs

Cape Consulting provides practical, commercial, and human-first HR support to growing SMEs, founder-led businesses, and charities across the UK. We are continuously building our talent bench with sharp, pragmatic HR Managers for client retainers, project-based work, and fractional roles.

About the Role

Delivering Client Support:
Serve as a trusted HR partner for a portfolio of clients, delivering clear, practical advice without corporate jargon or rigid box-ticking.

Responsibilities

• Navigating Employee Relations:
  Confidently handle complex ER cases, disciplinaries, grievances, restructures, TUPE transfers, and workplace conflict.
• Building People Foundations:
  Design and implement compliant employment contracts, policies, performance frameworks, and onboarding processes tailored to each client's unique culture.
• Coaching Leaders:
  Guide founders, executives, and line managers through difficult conversations, manager capability development, and team dynamics.
• Driving People Strategy:
  Help clients align workforce planning, recruitment strategies, and culture with long-term growth ambitions.

Qualifications

• Relevant
  
  Experience:
  
  Solid HR management background, ideally with experience advising multiple SMEs, growing companies, or third-sector organisations.

Required Skills

• Commercial Mindset:
  Ability to balance UK employment law compliance with practical business realities—focusing on sensible outcomes over textbook processes.
• Strong Communication:
  Talent for building fast rapport with business leaders, explaining complex employment issues simply, and de-escalating workplace friction.
• CIPD Accreditation:
  Level 5 or 7 qualification preferred, or equivalent hands-on experience navigating UK employment law.
• Autonomy & Agility:
  Comfortable jumping into diverse business environments, diagnosing key people issues rapidly, and driving momentum.