HR Operations Manager - Milton Keynes
Dandara
Job Description
HR Operations Manager - Milton Keynes, MK6 1BP
HR Operations Manager
Location: Milton Keynes
Function: Group HR
Reporting to: Group HR Director
Team: HR Assistants
Build an HR Operations function that works brilliantly
Were looking for an experienced HR Operations Manager to lead and develop our transactional HR service across Dandara Group.
Supporting our UK Housebuilding, Colby River and Dandara Living Developments businesses, youll bring our transactional HR activity together into one consistent, efficient and professional Group HR Operations service.
This is a hands-on operational leadership role for someone who loves getting the fundamentals of HR right.
Youll take ownership of the processes, systems, data and controls behind the employee lifecycle ensuring contracts are accurate, employee changes happen when they should, HR data can be trusted and managers and employees receive a consistently high-quality service.
Just as importantly, youll lead and develop our HR Assistants, creating a team with clear responsibilities, strong cross-cover and a genuine right-first-time culture.
What you'll be doing
Leading HR Operations
Youll lead, coach and develop our HR Assistants as one Group HR Operations team, establishing clear responsibilities, workflows and service standards.
You'll allocate workload across the Group, build knowledge and cross-cover within the team and create an environment where accuracy, responsiveness and accountability matter.
Owning the employee lifecycle
Youll oversee the quality and timely delivery of our core HR transactions, including:
Offers, contracts and onboarding
Probation administration
Promotions, transfers and contractual changes
Family leave and absence administration
Leaver processes
Employee records and document control
References and employment correspondence
Payroll notifications and employee changes
Approvals, authorisations and supporting documentation
You'll introduce appropriate checks and controls to make sure our employee documentation is accurate and right first time.
Improving how we work
This isn't simply about maintaining existing processes.
You'll review how transactional HR currently operates across the Group and identify where we can simplify, standardise and improve.
You'll map processes, remove unnecessary duplication and manual activity, introduce clear service standards and establish sensible boundaries between HR Operations, HR Business Partners, Resourcing, Payroll and line managers.
We also want someone who is curious about how AI and automation can make HR administration faster, simpler and more reliable.
Making our HR data dependable
You'll take operational ownership of the quality and integrity of employee data within our HR system, currently COINS.
That means ensuring employee information is accurate, complete and updated on time, introducing validation and reconciliation controls and carrying out regular data-quality audits.
You'll also take ownership of producing accurate and consistent HR management information and reporting.
What we're looking for
You'll already have strong experience within HR Operations, HR administration or an HR shared-services environment, ideally supporting multiple sites or businesses.
We're particularly interested in someone who can demonstrate:
Strong knowledge of end-to-end employee lifecycle administration
Experience leading and developing an operational HR team
Excellent attention to detail and a strong right-first-time mindset
Experience managing HR systems and employee data
Strong process improvement and problem-solving skills
Experience introducing controls, service standards and quality checks
Confidence producing and quality-assuring HR reports and management information
Good knowledge of HR policies, employment documentation, confidentiality and data protection
The confidence to challenge inconsistent ways of working and establish clear responsibilities
A practical approach to automation, technology and AI
Experience using COINS HR would be advantageous, but isn't essential.
What success looks like
Over your first 612 months, you'll have brought our HR Assistants together as a cohesive Group HR Operations team and created clear, consistent ways of working across our businesses.
Our employee lifecycle processes will be standardised, contracts and documentation will be more consistently right first time, our HR data will be trusted and stakeholders will know exactly what they can expect from HR Operations.
Most importantly, you'll create a dependable and scalable operational HR service that allows our HR Business Partners to spend less time checking administration and more time partnering with the business.
If you're an HR Operations professional who enjoys creating order, improving processes, developing people and making sure the detail is right, we'd love to hear from you.
What's in it for you?
Competitive basic based on experience
Bonus Scheme
Car Allowance
33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
Private Medical Insurance
Employee Assistance Programme - EAP
Health Hero digital doctor - 24 hr virtual help and appointments
Health Assured Wisdom App
3x salary life assurance (paid option to increase to x4)
Cycle to Work Scheme
Employer matched pension scheme of up to 5%
Flexible benefits including shopping vouchers, airport parking and reduced gym membership
No Agencies please.