Who We Are
Science Group (AIM:SAG) is an international science, engineering and technology business providing independent advisory and advanced product development services to the medical, defence, industrial, food & beverage and consumer sectors, supplemented by a strategic products division where the Group holds leading market positions in associated technology sectors.

With offices throughout Europe, North America and Asia, we have two UK-based dedicated R&D innovation centres and more than 600 employees who are fluent in over 30 languages – supporting a global client base in over 100 countries. The Group has a strong balance sheet, with significant cash resources and freehold property asset base.

We realise the Group’s success is largely driven by our world class employees; this means that in growing our business we look for exceptional, hard-working and hands-on employees that will flourish in a dynamic and stimulating environment.

The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic HR Manager to join the HR team in our Bristol office. Reporting to the Group HR Director (who is based in Cambridge), the successful candidate will work closely with the relevant Divisional MDs and senior management teams and will also be responsible for the direct line management of 2 HR Advisors (one based in Bristol and one based in Cambridge).

You will partner with the relevant operating businesses to ensure that a broad range of HR activities are managed effectively and to a high level of professionalism, providing first-line advice, coaching and general HR support across the divisions. This includes advising stakeholders on HR best practice and fostering a high-performance culture that attracts and retains talented and motivated individuals, supporting and developing them to deliver the best possible business results.

You should, therefore, already have significant experience of providing first class generalist HR management support within a commercial or consulting services environment and have a proven track record of providing a comprehensive HR service with some degree of autonomy. You should also be proactive, resilient and able to prioritise your own workload, with strong attention to detail and the ability to apply a consistently high level of accuracy to your work.

Science Group is best characterised as a growing and ambitious organisation, with a fast-paced environment, so the successful candidate will enjoy fantastic exposure within a dynamic and constantly evolving work environment. You should also enjoy taking a hands-on approach to daily tasks, with a desire to deliver credible and pragmatic people solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Partnering: Act as a partner to the relevant business areas, providing advice, coaching and support to team leaders (and others) on all HR matters, policies and processes. Identify and address key personnel issues within the business, escalating to the Group HR Director and/or Divisional MD where appropriate.
• Employee Relations: Proactively advise managers on all ER issues, owning and driving the process whilst ensuring alignment with the wider HR team across the Group.
• Performance Management: Oversee all performance issues, coaching team leaders on how to deal with such matters as per Company policy.
• HR Queries: Work with (and mentor) more junior members of the HR team, to ensure that all employee queries are dealt with promptly and accurately. Also respond directly to more complex employee questions and concerns, generating solutions whilst seeking clarification (where required) from the Group HR Director.
• Policies & Procedures: Responsible for ensuring that HR best practice is followed and that HR-related Company activities comply with local employment legislation, whilst taking into account business and corporate requirements.
• Onboarding: Deliver the new joiner induction programme on a divisional level, providing a comfortable yet thorough onboarding process whilst also following up via probation review meetings.
• Pay & Benefits: Act as a point of contact for all employee payroll queries within the relevant division, liaising with the Payroll team to ensure salary updates and pension contribution changes are processed correctly.
• Absence Management: Monitor and address employee absence issues as per Company policy, escalating to the Group HR Director when required.
• Succession Planning: Partner with senior divisional management to strategically manage their resources, focusing on key retention activities and career development opportunities. Also ensure this approach is aligned with the Talent Acquisition team, who will drive the day-to-day aspects of the actual recruitment.
• Learning & Development: Work collaboratively with the current HR team and divisional Capability Leads to discuss career development and training needs, contributing to key training themes and ensuring the development requirements of individuals and business are met
• Reporting: Deliver both regular and ad hoc reports to the Group HR Director and/or Divisional MD, regarding HR-related data and metrics.
• General Support: Provide additional support to the Group HR Director when required, using HR information systems to access, input and compile data.
•  Projects: Undertake additional ad hoc projects as required, including playing a key role in the Company’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic agenda.
• Travel: Whilst based in Bristol, this role will require periodic travel to the Cambridge office.

Experience & Qualifications

•  Minimum of 5 years’ experience working in HR, preferably at a manager level within a professional services environment
• CIPD or equivalent qualification desirable but not essential
• Previous line management experience preferred
• Experience of post-acquisition integration highly desirable
• Experience of resolving complex employee relations issues
• Firm understanding of HR best practice and compliance with local employment legislation (UK essential)
• Experience of being part of a multi-site central support function
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to liaise with all levels of the organisation
• Experience of dealing with senior individuals
• Ability to build rapport with employees
• Ability to multi-task, prioritise effectively and operate efficiently in a fast-moving environment

Career Development
We are committed to career development and make a focused effort to offer bespoke training and mentoring, to allow each individual to thrive within their environment and realise their personal potential.

Benefits
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.