Hr Manager

  • The Oval Partnership
  • Crewkerne, Somerset
  • Jan 29, 2026
Full time Manufacturing

Job Description

Are you a people-centric HR professional who thrives in the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of FMCG?

We are looking for a Site HR Manager to join a leading European Food Group at their flagship manufacturing facility in the Southwest. Part of the Site Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the HR Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping the culture and operational success of the manufacturing facility.

This isn't just a "behind-the-desk" role. You will be the strategic right-hand to the Site Director, a coach to the SLT, and a visible leader on the shop floor. Balancing high-level business partnering with hands-on generalist expertise, you ll ensure their people are as high-performing as their production lines.

The Impact You ll Make

  • Strategic Partnering: Act as a critical friend and advisor to the Site Director and SLT, aligning people strategies with manufacturing output and site KPIs.
  • Culture & Engagement: Drive a "People First" culture, ensuring safety, wellbeing, and engagement are at the heart of every decision.
  • Leadership & Mentorship: Lead and develop one direct report (HR Coordinator/Admin), fostering their growth while overseeing the full employee lifecycle.
  • Employee Relations: Manage complex ER cases with a fair, pragmatic, and legislative-led approach, ideally within a unionized or fast-paced manufacturing context.
  • Talent & Retention: Lead recruitment, succession planning, and skills development to ensure the site is future-proofed against industry shifts.

The successful HR Manager will understand that in manufacturing, people are the companies greatest asset. You are as comfortable discussing long-term organisational design as you are resolving a grievance or walking the factory floor to check the "pulse" of the team.

Requirements:

  • Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or above (Level 7 preferred).
  • Experience: Proven track record in a Manufacturing or Industrial environment. You understand the nuances of shift patterns, production pressures, and site-based operations.
  • Approach: Genuinely people-centric. You lead with empathy but have the commercial acumen to make tough decisions when necessary.
  • Influence: Ability to hold your own within an SLT, challenging the status quo and driving continuous improvement.

Application via CV