HR Manager

Join the mission to protect our planet's future by becoming our new HR Manager. Synchronicity Earth is a growing organisation with an expanding team, and we are now looking for an experienced HR Manager to take ownership of all HR function within the team and organisation, building on the structures already in place to ensure we are a supportive and dynamic place to work.  

Reporting directly to the Head of Relationships & Operations, this new role will bring together all current HR function, focussing at first on streamlining our processes from recruitment to performance review, as well as ensuring we have all necessary policies and guidance in place. The role will also be responsible for developing the skills and welfare of our team, creating a strong Learning & Development programme which supports career development at all levels.  

Synchronicity Earth’s mission is clear: we blend passion and action to provide safe havens for endangered species, support communities living in harmony with nature, and turn conservation into a worldwide effort. By joining, you're not just taking part; you're weaving your own story into a future that's brighter and sustainable for all. 

We understand that life sometimes takes unexpected turns, and we welcome candidates who may have taken a career break. Your unique experiences and fresh perspective will only enhance our team's diversity and strengthen our ability to tackle the complex challenges facing our planet.  

Key responsibilities will include the following: 

• Work with the Board and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to assess capacity gaps across the organisation and how best to fill them.
• Manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle (recruitment, onboarding and offboarding).
• Provide support, guidance, and advice for managers in conducting and concluding employee relations cases, including absence, performance management, disciplinary and grievance cases, ensuring adherence to policy. 
• Coordinate and administer company benefits (including health benefit), and research other ways to improve our employee experience.  
• Create and manage organisation-wide and individual employee learning programmes. 
• Be independent point of contact for entire team for all welfare and professional issues, providing guidance on support available.  
• Support Synchronicity Earth’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group. 
• Review our staff handbook, and company HR policies and procedures ensuring they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect relevant legislation and best practice. 
• Be first point of contact with HR & HSE consultants. 
• Identify and implement (subject to budget) suitable HR systems that will help to automate Synchronicity Earth’s’ processes and lead to greater self-service of HR matters.

About you 

Essential skills and experience 

• Level 5 CIPD qualified.  
• A proven track record in managing UK HR function.  
• Experience of developing new policies and procedures for an organisation in line with current best practice in the UK.  
• Experience of supporting individuals to develop their skill base and careers.  

Candidates from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities with the above essential criteria who opt-in to our Guaranteed Interview Scheme will enter the first recruitment stage, see more information below. 

Your development: skills and experience from this role 

The following list is meant to provide guidance for your application while also demonstrating the type of skills and experience you will utilise and develop as part of this role. If there is anything here which you currently have no experience in, but would like to develop, then this would be a great role for you. Please let us know in your application if any of these in particularly appeal to you, or you have some experience already. 

• Experience of managing and delivering Health Benefit schemes.  
• Line Management experience.  
• Coaching and mentoring experience. For the right candidate we would consider supporting a candidate to achieve the Level 7 CIPD through the Government Apprenticeship scheme.  
• Experience or training in developing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion practices within an organisation. 
• Strategic and creative thinking, problem solving with minimal supervision and embedding new ideas within organisations. 
• Excellent listening skills and willingness to support others.  

Application & Recruitment Process 

Inclusion is a priority throughout our workplace culture and is embedded in our recruitment process (we are actively still seeking to improve it through employee and candidate suggestions). For example, the first stage of recruitment will be anonymised to mitigate against unconscious bias. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds for this role, particularly non-graduates, and are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Please let us know at any stage during the recruitment process if you have any accessibility requirements, we can accommodate for you, and which pronouns you would like to be referred to by.  

How to apply:  

• Fill in our candidate survey (Please see 'HR Manager - Recruitment Pack' for more information). 
• Submit a cover letter (one side of A4) outlining any relevant skills and experience you have for this role, why it interests you, and any skills that you would like to develop in this role, with your CV (no longer than two sides of A4) via Charity Jobs. Applications should be addressed to Victoria Steele. 

Right to Work: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK till at least the end 2028. We cannot accept applicants who require visa sponsorship for this role. 

Closing date for applications: 12th June 2024, 12noon

Expected interview dates:

• First Stage Interviews (zoom): 17-21st June 2024 (TBC)
• Second Stage Interviews (in-person): 24-25th June 2024 (TBC). Step free access and accessible bathroom available. 

Guaranteed Interview Scheme 

We recognise that people from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities are under-represented in our sector, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We aim to apply the same dedication to a flourishing diversity of people and wildlife on our planet through our programmes and in our working environment and strive to make this environment open and inclusive for everyone.  

As part of our commitment to attract and retain talented individuals from under-represented groups to the conservation and environment sector, if you belong to these groups, you can opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) in our candidate survey. If you meet the essential criteria for a role, you'll be guaranteed a first-stage assessment. In most cases, this will be a 20-minute interview held via Zoom, however, in the case of an extraordinary number of applicants, the first-stage candidates (including GIS) will receive a short assessment. The results of this assessment will be used to select candidates for the second-stage interview.

For more information about the role and Synchronicity Earth, please see the HR Manager - Recruitment Pack.