People Relations Manager

Who we are

St Mary’s Hospice provides compassionate, specialist care and support for people across South Cumbria who are living with a life-limiting illness. Our services extend beyond medical care — we also offer emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, their families, and carers. We are deeply rooted in the local community and take pride in delivering person-centred care that truly makes a difference when it matters most.

We have three main bases: the hospice building in Ulverston, the St Mary’s Compassionate Communities Centre in Barrow-in-Furness and a satellite site in Ambleside. We also provide home care, run therapy and wellbeing groups in the local community, and serve as a regional educational hub for palliative and end-of-life care education.

About the role

The People Relations Manager will work closely with colleagues across the hospice to build strong, positive working relationships and ensure fair, consistent, and supportive people practices. This includes providing expert advice on complex employee relations matters, supporting staff wellbeing, contributing to strategic workforce planning and fostering an inclusive, engaged workplace culture.

Key aspects of the role are to:

• Manage the relationships between staff, employees and volunteers, ensuring a harmonious working environment.
• Lead the Payroll, HR and Administration team
• Lead the volunteering function and support the development of a volunteer strategy
• Support the leadership team in the development and implementation of a people’s strategy

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for a passionate and experienced People Relations Manager (CIPD Level 3 and above) to join our team and play a key role in shaping a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.

We are looking for a values-led individual with strong HR expertise, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative approach.

You’ll thrive in a supportive but fast-paced environment and be passionate about helping others do their best work. In return, we offer a workplace rooted in care, respect, and development, with a commitment to your personal and professional growth.