HR Manager (Head of HR)
Location: Luton (Hybrid - Minimum 3 Days On-Site)
Travel: Occasional travel to a secondary UK site (1-2 times per year)
Team: HR Business Partner + HR Administrator
Employees Supported: ~165 employees across two UK locations
Overview
First Achieve Engineering is supporting a long-established engineering and manufacturing business in their search for a strategic and people-focused HR Manager.
This is a key leadership role responsible for guiding the HR function, shaping strategic initiatives, and supporting a workforce of over 160 employees. The successful candidate will lead a high-performing HR team and take ownership of several high-impact people projects already underway.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
- Lead and deliver the company's HR Strategy built around three core pillars: Attract, Retain, and Forward Plan.
- Partner with senior leadership to drive a long-term, progressive approach to people development and organisational culture.
Team Management
- Line manage and support a HR Business Partner and HR Administrator, ensuring a high standard of service delivery across both operational and strategic HR activity.
Employee Engagement
- Take ownership of a recently launched Employee Engagement Survey, driving all follow-up actions including communication, focus groups, strategic planning and implementing improvements.
Learning & Development
- Roll out and monitor a newly approved training programme, including:
- Dignity & Respect workshops
- A multi-module Management Development Programme for all people leaders
- Evaluate future skills needs and design ongoing capability initiatives.
Succession Planning & Workforce Development
- Continue the development of a structured Succession Planning framework, addressing role-critical skills, future risk areas, and long-term workforce sustainability.
- Build on existing documentation and support leadership in developing readiness plans.
Employer Branding & Early Careers
- Expand and strengthen School Outreach activity, creating pathways for apprentices, trainees and local talent.
- Support wider employer branding initiatives to enhance visibility within the local community.
Generalist HR Leadership
- Oversee all core HR processes across the full employee lifecycle, including ER, organisational development, policy review, workforce planning, and talent support.
- Promote a proactive, people-first approach within the HR function.
Key Priorities for the First 6-12 Months
- Lead actions and outcomes from the Employee Engagement Survey.
- Drive the rollout of the Management Development Programme.
- Advance the business's Succession Planning agenda.
- Build on School Outreach and early careers partnerships.
- Maintain the strategic HR direction that is now established within the business.
Working Pattern
- Hybrid working available with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at the main site.
- Occasional travel to a secondary location (1-2 times per year).
Ideal Candidate
- Strong HR generalist background with proven experience in strategic HR delivery.
- Confident working closely with senior leadership teams.
- Skilled in L&D, engagement, succession planning, and cultural development.
- Passionate about driving positive organisational change and developing people capability.
Why Work For Us?
- Competitive compensation and benefits packages.
- Excellent training and development opportunities.
- Generous annual leave with the option to purchase additional days.
- Contributory pension plan with associated life assurance.
- Recognition reward schemes.
- Healthcare scheme with cash back on medical services (dental, optical, etc.).
- Virtual GP service and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- Wide range of employee discounts, including gyms, high street and online retailers.
