HR Manager – 6 Month Fixed-Term Contract

Salary: £55,000-£65,000 per annum (pro rata)
Contract: 6-month FTC
Location: UK
Reporting to: HR Director

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR professional to join an established global entertainment business on a 6-month fixed-term contract.

Working as part of the wider People team, you will play an important role in supporting the business through the delivery of effective HR services, providing guidance to managers, resolving employee matters and ensuring people processes run smoothly.

This is a broad generalist position that combines operational HR management with involvement in business-wide people projects. You will be someone who enjoys variety, is confident working independently and can quickly establish relationships across different teams and levels of the organisation.

From advising on complex employee relations matters and supporting payroll processes to preparing employment documentation, improving performance management, helping shape workforce plans and occasionally supporting recruitment for key business roles, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible contribution during your time with the business.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Providing HR Support Across the Business

Take ownership of the day-to-day HR function, ensuring managers and employees receive timely, effective support.
Provide advice and guidance across the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to development, employee changes and exit processes.
Build strong working relationships with stakeholders across different departments and levels of the organisation.
Help maintain a consistent and positive approach to people management.
Support recruitment activity for selected permanent and core business roles, including coordinating the recruitment process, liaising with hiring managers and supporting candidates through to offer stage.

Managing Employee Relations

Take the lead on a range of employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinary processes, investigations, performance concerns and long-term absence.
Guide managers through challenging people situations, providing practical solutions and clear advice.
Ensure all cases are managed fairly, sensitively and in accordance with current UK employment legislation.
Identify potential risks and work proactively to resolve issues.

People Processes, Systems & Payroll

Work alongside Finance, HR colleagues and external payroll partners to oversee the monthly payroll process.
Maintain the accuracy and integrity of employee information across HR systems.
Support the ongoing development and effective use of HR technology, including HRIS, recruitment and performance management platforms.
Prepare and issue offer letters, employment documentation, contractual amendments and general HR correspondence, ensuring all documentation is accurate, professionally presented and issued promptly.
Identify opportunities to streamline existing processes and improve the overall employee and manager experience.

Performance & Talent Management

Support the development and delivery of the organisation’s performance management approach.
Work with managers on objective setting, employee reviews and performance improvement plans.
Review and maintain organisational job descriptions, ensuring roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.
Provide guidance to managers on developing their teams and addressing performance challenges.

People Reporting & Business Insight

Prepare and analyse people-related information, identifying trends and areas requiring attention.
Monitor key metrics including employee turnover, absence, recruitment and workforce requirements.
Translate HR data into useful insights and recommendations for the HR Director and senior management team.
Support workforce planning and help identify future organisational requirements.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

Get involved in a variety of HR initiatives and projects, supporting the wider people agenda.
Contribute to organisational development, restructuring and change-related activity where required.
Help review and refresh HR policies, procedures and internal ways of working.
Support initiatives designed to strengthen management capability and improve people processes.

What We’re Looking For

We’re particularly interested in someone who is bright, articulate and intellectually curious, with the confidence and communication skills to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

Ideally, you’ll be degree-educated in a relevant discipline such as Human Resources, Law, Business Management or a related subject.

You’ll be an established HR generalist who is comfortable operating across both the operational and advisory sides of HR. You’ll bring the confidence to manage your own workload, deal with sensitive situations and work closely with senior stakeholders.

In particular, you’ll have:

Previous experience in an HR Manager, Senior HR Advisor or equivalent generalist HR position.
A strong working knowledge of UK employment legislation and practical employee relations experience.
Experience supporting payroll operations and working with external payroll providers.
Good working knowledge of HR systems and the importance of accurate people data.
Experience contributing to performance management, organisational development and wider HR projects.
The ability to interpret HR information and use it to support business decisions.
Experience within a fast-paced, complex or multi-site organisation. Exposure to entertainment, media, events, hospitality or leisure would be beneficial.
Some experience of in-house recruitment or supporting end-to-end recruitment processes, with the ability to work closely with hiring managers to identify and attract talent.
Exceptional attention to detail, with strong written English and excellent spelling, grammar and proofreading skills.
Confidence drafting clear, accurate and professional HR documentation, including offer letters, employment correspondence and straightforward contractual paperwork.
A highly organised and methodical approach, with the ability to balance administrative responsibilities alongside broader HR management duties.

The Person

We’re looking for someone who is:

A confident and credible HR professional who can build relationships quickly.
Equally comfortable advising senior leaders and supporting employees with everyday queries.
Bright, articulate and an excellent verbal and written communicator.
Proactive, organised and able to manage multiple priorities.
Solutions-focused, commercially aware and pragmatic in their approach.
Comfortable working in a changing environment where flexibility and initiative are important.
Happy to take ownership, get involved and make things happen.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an international entertainment business in a varied HR role where you can bring your experience, make an immediate contribution and support the continued development of its people function.

Sphere Digital Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.