Interim HR Manager

Our client, an established UK training and safety services business, is looking for an experienced Interim HR Manager to provide 9 months of maternity cover. This is a standalone, hands-on generalist role with genuine autonomy: you will own the people agenda for the UK business, support an international team, and lead a review of onboarding and induction.

9-month

ASAP

Telford, hybrid. Minimum 2 days a week on site, more at busier times

Senior leadership; no direct reports

Up to £2245 per day

• Own all people policies: keep them current with employment law changes and recommend updates to leadership
• Coach and guideline managers on performance management, PIPs, disciplinary and grievance processes, and on communicating with employees in a legally sound way
• Provide pragmatic, solutions-focused advice: how to achieve the business outcome compliantly, not just what can't be done
• Draft job descriptions, issue contracts and offer documentation from existing templates
• Support hiring managers with recruitment: advertising, agency liaison and interview structure
• Run compliance reporting and reminders (right to work, document renewals, security checks)
• Provide light-touch support to HR colleagues in two overseas entities
• Deliver new-starter inductions and supply HR data to Finance for payroll
  
  Projects during the contract
• Lead a root-and-branch review of the onboarding and induction process and implement improvements
• Support the integration of the HR information system with the finance system
• Transition routine HR administration to the overseas support team, freeing the UK role to focus on strategic work

• CIPD Level 4 or above
• Proven HR generalist experience in an SME, ideally as a standalone HR lead or in an interim capacity
• Strong, up-to-date UK employment law knowledge and the confidence to apply it pragmatically
• Experience owning an HR information system; you learn new platforms quickly and are comfortable being the in-house expert
• Confident with Excel and HR reporting
• Able to hit the ground running, work independently and build credibility quickly with line managers who rely heavily on HR support
• Comfortable in a business going through change, where the pace is busy and the role is hands-on