Your new role
An established, international retail organisation is seeking a People Operations Manager to lead the day‑to‑day operational HR agenda across the UK and Southern Europe. The role supports a circa‑700 employee population across multiple countries and retail locations, with responsibility for ensuring operational excellence across HR Operations including payroll, systems, reward, mobility and employee relations.This is a hands‑on, delivery‑focused role suited to an experienced HR professional who enjoys working close to the detail while maintaining oversight of risk, governance and cost. You'll manage one direct report and partner closely with Finance, Legal, Retail leadership and external providers.
Employee Relations & Risk Management
Oversee complex and sensitive employee relations matters
Partner with external legal advisors on investigations, disputes and high‑risk cases
Coordinate with Health, Safety and Security stakeholders where appropriatePayroll & Operational Compliance
Full accountability for payroll delivery across several jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance
Act as the central link between HR, Finance, operational teams and external payroll partners
Maintain compliance with local employment, tax and regulatory requirementsPeople Analytics, Cost Control & Planning
Own headcount modelling, payroll forecasting and workforce cost management
Produce people insights, reporting and dashboards to support business decision‑making
Analyse trends, risks and inefficiencies within the people function and recommend improvementsHR Systems & Data Ownership
System owner for HR technology, ensuring data accuracy, integrity and adoption
Lead system enhancements, upgrades and optimisation activity
Provide training and support to HR colleagues, managers and employees on system useReward & Benefits
Deliver annual reward cycles including salary reviews, bonus and commission administration
Support market benchmarking to ensure competitive and sustainable reward positioning
Manage benefits provision and relationships with external suppliersMobility & Right‑to‑Work
Oversee immigration, visa and relocation processes for international hires and transfers
Partner with external advisors to ensure full compliance across jurisdictions
Act as a trusted point of contact for employees navigating international movesWhat you'll need to succeed
Senior experience in People/HR Operations with Payroll and Reward (c.10+ years)
Background in retail, hospitality or other fast‑paced environments preferred
Strong payroll (end‑to‑end), HR systems and people reporting capability
Confident using HR data and dashboards to drive insight and decisions
Detail‑focused, well-organised, and compliant in approach
Solid knowledge of UK and regional employment law
Strong communicator, trusted with highly sensitive information
What you'll get in return
Generous pay and benefits
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)
