Senior People Operations Manager

Senior People Operations Manager - 12 Month FTC

We are the People Operations team, dedicated to driving operational excellence and supporting our colleagues across News UK. Our purpose is to deliver seamless, high-quality service, maintain robust data integrity, and implement innovative tools to empower our workforce.

As our Senior People Operations Manager, reporting directly to the Director of People Operations, you will play a pivotal role in mentoring a talented team and driving improvements. This is a fantastic opportunity to optimise workflows, champion data integrity, and make a tangible impact across a leading media business.

• Team Management & Delivery:
  Direct management and coaching of the operational team to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Stakeholder Management:
  Building strong, trusted relationships with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), internal teams, and third‑party vendors.
• Compliance & Risk Mitigation:
  Monitoring and maintaining absolute compliance against internal, external, and SOX standards.
• Operational Expertise:
  Serving as the subject matter expert on core People systems, administrative workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Immigration & Mobility Oversight:
  Managing right-to-work frameworks and immigration compliance for the business.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Partnering closely with London-based People teams and stakeholders to align operational workflows.
• Process Review & Optimisation:
  Proactively review, design, and optimise administrative workflows. Establish clear protocols, gain stakeholder buy‑in, and maintain high standards of delivery.
• Data Integrity Management:
  Ensure robust frameworks are in place for accurately capturing and updating People data within our systems.
• Tactical Planning & Escalation:
  Lead the tactical day‑to‑day planning for the team and act as the primary point of escalation for complex operational or tier‑2 employment issues.
• Change Implementation:
  Support the roll‑out of new ways of working and operational tools, helping stakeholders transition smoothly to new processes.
• SLA & Performance Monitoring:
  Monitor team performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and internal metrics, implementing targeted action plans to address any service gaps.
• Immigration Sponsor Compliance:
  Monitor and maintain our strict immigration compliance obligations as a Grade A sponsor.
• Workday Implementation Support:
  Actively partner with and support the Director of People Operations to successfully deliver and embed Workday across News UK.

• Excellent Communication:
  Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex processes to stakeholders.
• Systems & Data Acumen:
  Strong working knowledge of HRIS platforms (ideally Workday) and core People operations data.
• Process Design
  
  Experience:
  
  A proven track record of reviewing, mapping, and improving administrative workflows for better efficiency.
• Compliance Knowledge:
  Clear understanding of compliance requirements, including SOX and data privacy standards (e.g., GDPR / Article 52).
• Employment Law & Immigration:
  Solid working knowledge of UK employment law and right-to-work/sponsor licence regulations.
• Problem‑Solving
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to analyse and solve operational challenges.
• People Management:
  Proven experience directly managing, mentoring, and developing team members.
• Project Delivery:
  Experience contributing to or leading components of People programmes and change management initiatives.
• Passion for Service Delivery: A strong commitment to delivering a smooth, high-quality, and helpful experience to colleagues.

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free Class Pass at Home, weekly in‑person / virtual exercise classes
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• Wide range of training available, plus full Linked In Learning access
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year

At News UK, we embrace a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. This approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and team spirit within our workspace. Certain roles may necessitate additional in‑office days; please discuss this with your recruiter for specific requirements.