People Operations Manager

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced People Operations Manager to join our People Team. This is a generalist HR role where you will oversee a wide range of HR disciplines, with a focus on employee relations (ER), policy & processes, and day to day operations/ways of working. You will support and mentor HR Advisors/Administrators, contribute to driving change and efficiency within the team and champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) initiatives.

The Mountain Warehouse People team has an evolving People Strategy with an emphasis on providing all of our colleagues with a great experience and becoming an employer of choice. We're building great foundations ready to take forward systems, engaging colleague initiatives, progressive policies and development to support our colleagues becoming the best they can.

We are a small, effective, value adding team who are excited about the future growth of our people at MW. We are working incredibly hard to create a modern colleague offer that supports our intentions to champion our People.

What you'll be doing

Generalist HR Support:

+ Provide end-to-end HR support across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee relations, restructures, conflict resolution, performance management and offboarding.
+ Serve as a key point of contact for managers and colleagues on a wide range of HR issues, ensuring policies and procedures are applied consistently.
+ Work collaboratively with the wider People Team to ensure a cohesive approach to People operations and delivery across the organisation.

Employee Relations (ER):

+ Act as a trusted advisor to line managers, providing expert advice on employee relations issues while ensuring legal compliance, fair and consistent treatment of colleagues and alignment with company policies and processes at all times.
+ Manage complex employee relations issues, including grievances, disciplinaries, and performance management, ensuring a fair and consistent approach in line with UK employment law and company policies.
+ Act as the subject matter expert on UK employment law, providing guidance and ensuring compliance across the business.

Team Development:

+ Mentor and develop HR Advisors/Coordinators, providing guidance, support, and training to help them grow in their roles.
+ Oversee their workload and equip them with the knowledge and skills to handle a broad range of HR tasks.

Change & Efficiency:

+ Identify and implement opportunities to improve HR processes, increase efficiencies, and drive positive change across the People function.
+ Be systems-savvy, using data to streamline processes and improve accuracy.
+ Use key HR metrics such as headcount, turnover, absence rates to present regular HR reports to leadership to support data-driven decision-making.
+ Identify areas for improvement and support continuous enhancement of HR processes, employee engagement, retention and compliance risks.

+ Experience within Head Office or a multisite brand ideally with a retail background.
+ 3-4 years experience in a similar HR Specialist role
+ CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) is preferred
+ Demonstrable experience of working within a fast-paced People role with exposure to multiple HR disciplines including employee relations, performance management, employee engagement and retention, organisational development and communications.
+ Solid knowledge of UK employment law and best practices, with the ability to apply this knowledge practically within the business.
+ Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship management skills, especially at managerial level.
+ Proven ability to mentor and develop HR team members, providing clear guidance and support.
+ Proficiency in using HR systems and an ability to leverage data and reporting for decision-making and process improvements.
+ Experience in identifying and leading efficiency improvements and HR process enhancements.

In 1997, we launched Mountain Warehouse to make the outdoors accessible to everyone by offering value for money product and exemplary customer service.
The outdoor industry had become very jargon heavy and we wanted to create a brand that would cater to our mothers and our neighbour's kids as well as seasoned professionals who understood the technology.
Our expansion since then has seen the brand grow and the product evolve, but the small family business that makes MW special has remained. Great product is at the heart of everything we do.
As we expand internationally we employ a team of dedicated diverse people to offer our valued customers the best possible experience when visiting our stores, shopping online and putting our range through its paces.
Welcome to our journey.

+ Competitive salary and benefits package
+ Holiday allowance
+ 50% staff discount & 25% for family and friends
+ Pension scheme
+ Opportunity to work in a collaborative and inclusive environment
+ Continuous learning and development opportunities
+ Ability to influence and drive change within a dynamic People Team