HR Manager (14 Month FTC)
Location: Wrexham (2 site manufacturing operation)
Salary: £65,000-£70,000 (flexible up to £75,000) + £5,000 car allowance
Contract: 14 month fixed term contract
Hours: 37 hours per week
Start Date: Within the next 2 weeks (immediate availability essential)


The Opportunity
Robet Half LTD seeking an experienced and hands-on HR Manager to join a Wrexham manufacturing operation on a 14-month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. This is an urgent requirement and candidates must be immediately available or able to start within the next two weeks.
This is a pivotal leadership role within a unionised, fast-paced manufacturing environment, supporting circa 200 employees across two sites. Around 70% of the workforce is blue collar, alongside head office and functional teams.
You will have full operational HR oversight for the site, while also sitting as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), influencing business decisions and leading people-focused projects.
The Role
Reporting into the wider UK HR structure and working closely with the Plant Director and SLT, you will:
*Lead and develop a team of 6 HR professionals (including HR Advisor, Assistant, Training Coordinator and specialist support functions)
*Provide full operational HR leadership across a unionised manufacturing workforce
*Act as the key liaison with Trade Unions, leading on pay negotiations (current talks underway and groundwork for 2026)
*Drive engagement, communication and change activity following recent acquisition
*Partner with SLT to shape and execute the annual people plan
*Bring greater structure and consistency to key HR processes (e.g. bonus schemes, policy application, people frameworks)
*Support continuous improvement initiatives across the plant
*Champion visibility and presence on the shop floor - building trust and credibility at all levels
*Lead employee engagement initiatives, CSR and community involvement programmes
*Collaborate with central functions including Legal, ER and Compensation & Benefits teams
*Support ongoing projects
This is a highly visible role requiring strong influencing skills, commercial awareness and the ability to balance strategic input with hands-on operational delivery.
About You
We are looking for a confident and credible HR leader who thrives in a manufacturing setting and enjoys being embedded in the operation.
You will bring:
*Proven HR leadership experience within a manufacturing environment (food manufacturing desirable)
*Essential experience working in a unionised setting
*Strong experience leading pay negotiations and managing union relationships
*A track record of developing and nurturing HR teams
*Experience operating as part of a Senior Leadership Team
*The ability to influence, challenge and partner at senior level
*A hands-on, visible and approachable leadership style
*Strong change management and engagement experience
*Commercial awareness and sound judgement
Most importantly, you will be a strong people leader - someone who can bring stability, energy and direction, develop capability within the HR team, and foster collaboration across the site.
Working Arrangements
*Predominantly site-based (5 days per week), with some flexibility for occasional home working
*Flexibility around start and finish times
*Open, collaborative office environment (approx. 60 office-based colleagues)
*A "small company within a bigger company" feel - autonomy within a wider corporate framework
Why Join?
*Opportunity to play a key leadership role during a significant period of business change
*High visibility and influence at site and UK level
*A supportive SLT and engaged workforce
*Real scope to shape, improve and strengthen people processes
*Immediate impact opportunity


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