As part of our client’s SLT, reporting to the CEO, you will be responsible for creating a stable, high-performing workforce, improving retention, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring they have the people infrastructure to support continued growth. We are looking for someone who can operate both strategically and hands-on, and who is motivated by building something, not just maintaining it.
Hybrid – 1 day per week WFH in school terms, 2 days per week WFH in school holidays
£75000 per annum – OTE £82000 per annum
Office base – Cheadle (SK8)
Key Responsibilities:
Workforce Stability & Performance
- Reduce employee turnover and improve retention across all sites
- Identify and address root causes of attrition (recruitment, onboarding, leadership, culture)
- Support managers to build strong, consistent teams
Leadership & Manager Capability
- Coach and challenge managers to improve performance
- Build clear expectations and accountability for people management
- Develop training and frameworks that raise leadership standards
Recruitment & Talent Pipeline
- Build a proactive, always-on recruitment engine
- Improve quality, speed, and consistency of hiring
- Strengthen employer brand within local markets
People Infrastructure
- Standardise contracts, policies, and HR processes across all sites
- Implement effective onboarding, probation, and performance management systems
- Ensure processes are practical, consistent, and actually used
Employee Relations & Compliance
- Lead on complex employee relations cases with confidence and sound judgement
- Ensure full compliance with employment law and sector requirements
- Maintain clear, consistent, and defensible practices across the group
Growth & Integration
- Support acquisitions from a people perspective (integration, contracts, culture)
- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team on organisational structure and growth plans
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)
- Measurable reduction in staff turnover
- Improved recruitment speed and quality across roles
- Stronger, more capable managers
- Consistent people processes across all sites
- High confidence in compliance and risk management
What we’re looking for:
- Experienced in a multi-site environment (e.g. childcare, education, care, hospitality, retail)
- Proven in reducing attrition and improving workforce stability
- Strong in employee relations, able to handle complex cases directly
- Comfortable operating in a hands-on, fast-paced environment
- Commercially aware, understanding how people impact performance
- Confident challenging and supporting managers to improve standards
Lily Shippen: Specialist Executive Assistant, PA, HR and Business Support Recruitment in London, Manchester, Cheshire and Across the UK
Lily Shippen is a specialist recruitment agency placing exceptional Executive Assistant (EA), Personal Assistant (PA), Private PA, Chief of Staff, Office Manager, Operations Manager and Virtual Assistant (VA) professionals, alongside a dedicated HR recruitment practice spanning HR Assistant, HR Advisor, HR Manager, HR Business Partner and Head of HR roles. We recruit across London, Manchester, Cheshire and nationwide, connecting outstanding people with the businesses that value them.
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