Purpose of the role

The Senior HR Manager FTC (Maternity Cover) will support the Chief People Officer and operate in an HR generalist capacity, providing complete HR service to internal stakeholders. You will act as advocate for both the company and its employees and must adapt to the changing needs of the brand as it evolves and becomes more established. Alongside the CPO, you will deliver a customer focused, comprehensive, pragmatic, and high level of service in line with the company policies, procedures and legal requirements.

This is a 10-month FTC starting early to mid-August 2026, with a possibility to extend to a year.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional HR advice and support to managers and key stakeholders on a range of HR issues including (but not limited to):
• Employee relations
• Performance and capability issues
• Employment legislation
• Contracts of employment
• Management of attendance
• Develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders across the business ensuring effective communication and early identification of issues and HR priorities
• Work with the Talent and Recruitment Manager to advise and support internal stakeholders on recruitment, including development of job descriptions, devising recruitment strategies to build a strong talent pool and conducting preliminary interviews to assess culture fit.
• Support with implementation of HR induction processes for new teams to ensure integration into the company
• Maintain a full knowledge of employment law & HR best practice and in conjunction with the HR team, ensure that all legislative changes are accurately reflected in company policies, handbooks, templates, etc.
• Support with the upcoming retail expansion of Phoebe Philo Ltd. and help build retail teams and HR infrastructure to support this growth.
• Support the CPO in all levels of disciplinary, grievance, capability and appeal hearings
• Supervise and support the HR Assistant to maintain and update the HR records on systems and files, prepare payroll for the UK, France, Italy and USA and produce ad-hoc reports as required
• Support the CPO in budgeting and conducting audits to ensure data integrity.
• Participate and drive the annual performance and pay review process with the CPO
• Conduct regular and proactive check ins with employees
• Work on HR analytics eg: exit data, recruitment metrics, and any other analysis as required
• Be actively involved in driving projects to continuously improve the HR function
• You may also be required to carry out any other duties within your capacity, which the Company may reasonably require.

Measures of Success

• Strong partnerships across the business, fostering trust in the HR function
• Efficient and effective HR support
• Talent attraction and retention
• People risk identification and mitigation
• Payroll and data accuracy

Qualifications, Skills, Experience Required

• Previous experience working in a fashion retail environment with multiple stakeholders
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in HR
• Ideally CIPD qualified
• Strong knowledge, understanding and practical application of UK employment law. Experience in France and Italy labour law/payroll will be an advantage
• Discreet, confidential and professional
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external managers and contacts
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and the ability to communicate with all levels of the organisation
• Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise workload, manage deadlines and perform under pressure
• Proactive and positive approach
• Keen interest in fashion and able to represent the brand both in personal style and intellect
• Emotional intelligence, with mental and professional agility to be able to move between HR issues seamlessly clarifying priorities in an ever-changing environment.