People Operations Manager

People Operations Manager

Location: Coventry, West Midlands (Hybrid – 3–4 days on-site)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced People Operations Manager to join a well-established organisation, taking ownership of the delivery, development and continuous improvement.

This is a broad and varied leadership role, ideal for a proactive HR professional who enjoys combining hands-on operational delivery with strategic improvement initiatives.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that HR processes, systems and services are efficient, compliant and employee-focused, whilst leading a People Operations team and driving improvements across the entire employee lifecycle.

Working closely with senior leadership and the wider People & Culture function, you will have the opportunity to influence how people services are delivered, enhance the employee experience and support the organisation through ongoing development and change.

Key Responsibilities

People Operations & HR Service Delivery

• Lead the day-to-day delivery of People Operations services across the UK, ensuring a consistent, responsive and high-quality service.
• Oversee the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, contractual changes, absence management and offboarding.
• Ensure HR policies, procedures and processes remain compliant with UK employment legislation.

HR Systems, Data & Reporting

• Take ownership of the HRIS platform and associated people systems.
• Drive system optimisation, automation and improvements to HR processes and employee self-service.
• Ensure accurate, secure and compliant people data management.
• Develop meaningful HR reporting, dashboards and workforce insights to support business decisions.

Payroll, Reward & Benefits

• Oversee payroll governance, working closely with Finance and external payroll providers to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Manage employee benefits programmes and relationships with external providers.
• Coordinate reward, recognition and employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and value of employee benefits.

Learning & Development

• Oversee the coordination and administration of organisational learning and development programmes.
• Manage mandatory training compliance and associated reporting.
• Support leadership development, management training and wider capability-building initiatives.
• Monitor learning participation and effectiveness, identifying opportunities for improvement.

Continuous Improvement & Employee Experience

• Lead projects focused on improving HR processes, operational efficiency and employee experience.
• Identify opportunities for automation, digitalisation and system enhancements.
• Establish and monitor service levels, KPIs and operational performance measures.
• Use employee feedback, HR data and operational insights to shape improvements.
• Support wider organisational change and people initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop the People Operations team, creating a high-performing, customer-focused function.
• Set clear objectives, manage performance and support professional development.
• Build strong relationships across HR Business Partnering, Recruitment, Payroll, Finance and senior leadership.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on service excellence and continuous improvement.

About You

We are looking for an experienced People Operations or HR Operations professional who can demonstrate a strong understanding of HR service delivery, systems, compliance and process improvement.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven experience in a People Operations, HR Operations or HR Shared Services environment.
• Broad generalist HR knowledge spanning the employee lifecycle, HR systems, payroll governance, benefits and learning and development.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation, HR policies and best practice.
• Experience managing or improving HR systems, with exposure to Dayforce particularly beneficial.
• Confidence working with HR data, reporting, analytics and management information.
• A track record of improving processes, implementing change and driving operational efficiencies.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to develop teams and build effective stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• The ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on operational responsibilities.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and a genuine commitment to delivering an excellent employee experience.

A CIPD Level 5 qualification, or equivalent professional experience, would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for an established HR Operations professional looking to take ownership of a broad People Operations function and make a tangible impact.

The role offers the chance to lead a team, shape HR service delivery, drive systems and process improvements, and work closely with senior stakeholders in an organisation where operational excellence and employee experience are key priorities.

Location: Hybrid working, with 3–4 days per week based in Coventry.

Interested?

If you are an experienced People Operations Manager, HR Operations Manager or HR Shared Services professional looking for your next challenge, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this role with you.

Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation to find out more.

Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Canteen
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Employee mentoring programme
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Work Location: In person