New Balance - HR Manager, UK, Ireland, Italy & Nordics - Warrington

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today. At New Balance, We Got Now.

The HR Manager will provide broad, operational generalist HR support to our associates and the wider business with the aim of building a high performing, highly engaged organisation across both corporate and retail environments.

JOB MISSION:

The HR Manager will provide broad, operational generalist HR support to our associates and the wider business with the aim of building a high performing, highly engaged organisation across both corporate and retail environments.  You will ensure our managers and associates are well supported and have the resources required to succeed in a growing brand.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Responsible for HR activity through the associate lifecycle across EMEA HQ in Warrington,  UK & Ireland retail stores, and act as point of contact for our Country Managers in employee relations matters in the Nordics and Italy, providing support for both associates and managers

• Execute ongoing organisational change across the business

• Support change management initiatives

• Plan for, and execute against, regional HR strategy

• Utilise employment law knowledge to meet business needs and ensure consistent, fair and accurate application

• Provide coaching and advice on employee relations issues to managers, influencing and intervening when appropriate to ensure fairness and consistency

• Manage complex employee relations casework when required, including dispute resolutions, disciplinaries, grievances, absence, retirement and redundancy.

• People management responsibility for Office Manager and Reception

  • Lead, motivate and develop

  • Ensure the delivery of employee focused service in each location

• Carry out research into innovation and best practice for HR to support HR policy and procedure development

• Apply HR and business knowledge to aid decision making.

• Ensure consistent application of policy and procedure across the organization

• Develop programmes to enhance employee relations and associate engagement in line with regional approach

• Support Talent Acquisition in recruitment where appropriate and manage recruitment and selection end to end when required

• Ensure effective onboarding of new hires and internal promotions in line with global processes

• Provide advice to managers and associates for the annual Performance Management and Talent Management processes

• Ensure any learning and development requirements are identified and fed into the Talent function

• Build and maintain effective relationships with wider HR team, local/regional/global stakeholders and external partners

• Champion DE&I, community connection and wellbeing activities

• Role model for NB values and behaviours, ambassador for the HR function and able to bring new associates into our culture

• Undertake HR projects as needed

KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• Proven experience in a similar role, delivering a service driven HR function at management level

• Broad generalist HR experience across HR – strong focus on employee relations and developing policy and procedure

• Previous experience of working in a corporate or retail, matrixed environment is an advantage

• Accountable decision maker who is able to think outside of own remit and see the wider business impact of own decisions

• Ideally degree educated and CIPD qualified

• Comprehensive working knowledge of employment law for countries in remit

• Outstanding and confident communicator, collaborator and influencing skills at all levels

• Proactive self starter with a results and deadline driven approach

• Highest levels of integrity and professional credibility

• Attention to detail

• Analytical skills

• Systems proficient, Workday/HRIS experience advantageous, MS Office essential

• Experience and/or willingness to have a broad knowledge of travel, company cars, office management

BENEFITS:

• Discretionary Bonus Opportunity

• Private Medical Insurance

• Dental Scheme

• Pension Scheme

• Flexible Working Hours (07:00 – 10:00 start, 15:00 -18:00 finish)

• Hybrid working (3 days on-site)

• 25 days Annual Leave per year

• Life Insurance

• On Site Gym

• Employee Discount

• Opportunity to work abroad for four weeks per year

• Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)

Equal Opportunity Employer:

New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment.  We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.

If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.