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HR Manager Job Description

An HR Manager leads the human resources function and acts as a strategic partner to senior leadership on people-related decisions. Where an HR Generalist handles day-to-day employee matters, the HR Manager sets policy, builds and maintains the infrastructure of the people function, manages complex employment issues, and ensures the organisation remains legally compliant while scaling. A great HR Manager makes the people strategy visible, measurable, and directly connected to business outcomes.

Key skills

Employment law and compliance (jurisdiction-specific)People strategy and workforce planningPerformance management framework designPolicy writing and HR process governanceHR systems and data management (BambooHR, Workday, HiBob)Organisational design and change managementLeadership coaching and management developmentCompensation benchmarking and total rewards

Responsibilities

  • • Own the HR function end-to-end, setting priorities and ensuring operational excellence
  • • Partner with the leadership team on workforce planning, headcount, and organisational structure
  • • Design, implement, and maintain HR policies that comply with employment law
  • • Lead complex employee relations cases including performance management and disciplinary proceedings
  • • Build and iterate performance review, goal-setting, and development frameworks
  • • Oversee compensation benchmarking and recommend salary band adjustments
  • • Manage and develop HR team members where the function has grown beyond one person
  • • Report people metrics (attrition, headcount, engagement scores) to leadership and board

Requirements

  • • 5+ years of HR experience with at least 2 in a managerial or lead capacity
  • • Deep knowledge of employment law in the relevant jurisdiction
  • • Experience designing and implementing HR policies and performance management frameworks
  • • Proven ability to manage sensitive and complex employee relations matters
  • • Strong commercial acumen and ability to connect people decisions to business outcomes
  • • Track record of partnering with and influencing senior leadership

Nice to have

  • • CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent professional HR qualification
  • • Experience scaling the HR function through a period of rapid headcount growth
  • • Exposure to international HR or multi-jurisdiction employment compliance

What to look for in a great HR Manager

The best HR Managers are both principled and pragmatic — they hold the line on policy and legal compliance while finding creative solutions that work for the business. Look for evidence of strategic influence: did the candidate shape a people programme that changed a measurable outcome, such as reducing attrition or improving engagement scores? Probe their approach to difficult conversations with senior leaders, not just difficult conversations with employees. HR Managers who can challenge a CEO respectfully and back up their position with data are rare and extremely valuable.

Where to source HR Manager candidates

Senior HR Generalists who are ready to step up are a strong and cost-effective pipeline — they already know the operational side and are often hungry for strategic scope. HR Business Partners from larger organisations can bring sophisticated people strategy experience but may need support adapting to leaner environments. HR networks such as CIPD branches, SHRM chapters, and people-focused LinkedIn communities surface both active and passive talent. Specialist HR recruitment agencies are worth engaging for senior roles where speed is critical.

Interview questions to ask an HR Manager

Ask 'Tell me about a people policy you built from scratch — what was the business case, how did you get buy-in, and what happened after it launched?' Then test judgement under pressure: 'Walk me through how you handled the most complex employee relations case of your career.' Follow with a strategic question: 'How do you decide what to prioritise when the CEO wants a new performance framework, the business is growing fast, and two senior leaders are in conflict?' You are looking for structured thinking and the ability to hold multiple priorities simultaneously.

FAQ

Hiring a HR Manager — FAQs

What does an HR Manager do? +
An HR Manager leads the human resources function, setting people policy, managing complex employee relations matters, partnering with senior leadership on workforce planning, and ensuring compliance with employment law. Unlike an HR Generalist who focuses on day-to-day HR operations, the HR Manager owns the strategy and infrastructure of the people function and is accountable for people metrics at an organisational level.
What is the difference between an HR Manager and an HR Generalist? +
An HR Generalist handles the broad range of day-to-day HR tasks — onboarding, benefits administration, policy queries, absence management — and is usually an individual contributor. An HR Manager has a wider strategic remit, sets policy, leads complex ER cases, advises leadership, and often manages other HR team members. The Manager role requires deeper expertise, higher commercial acumen, and leadership responsibility.
How much does an HR Manager earn? +
HR Manager salaries vary by organisation size, sector, and geography. Managers at larger or faster-growing organisations typically earn more than those in stable, smaller businesses. Industry also plays a role — financial services and technology tend to pay a premium for people leadership. Professional qualifications such as CIPD or SHRM can positively influence compensation. Always check current local market rates for the most accurate figure.
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