An HR manager is responsible for the implementation and management of a company's HR functions. In a smaller organisation, the HR manager may lead all people management functions. In a larger organisation, they will often report to a HR director or CHRO and have middle management responsibility.
What does an HR manager do?
An HR manager supports the people management functions that underpin the business culture. The broad areas include: employee matters, compensation and benefits, reward, professional growth, communications and performance management.
Sample HR manager responsibilities
- As an HR manager, you can expect to be involved in a senior position with responsibility for the following:
- Leading and directing the human resource team to deliver a comprehensive HR service to the business
- Employee relations, including managing absence, disciplinaries, grievances and sickness
- Measuring employee satisfaction and identifying areas that require improvement
- Coaching managers on performance management issues and processes
- Providing guidance on development for managers and their teams
- Implementing the training and development agenda; identify areas that need attention and improvement
- Managing talent and succession planning; taking overall responsibility for recruitment activity and campaigns
- Giving advice on company benefits
- Ensuring all company policies and procedures are up to date and in line with current employment law and ensuring line managers are up to date with any change in policy
HR manager skills and competencies
- An HR manager will be expected to hold a bachelors’ degree, and have at least two years’ experience in the field. You will also be expected to hold a CIPD accredited (or equivalent) qualification. You will also have the following skills:
- Superb communication honed in business partnering/advisory roles
- Experience of dealing with senior and sometimes challenging individuals
- Ability to build rapport quickly with key members of the executive team
- Ability to represent the HR function as part of the bigger business picture
- Confident directing HR and advising managers on all aspects of people management and development.
- Demonstrable experience in managing TUPE, redundancy or other relevant HR projects
- Strong understanding of employment law
- A professional and commercial approach to HR, with the ability to deliver high employee satisfaction, appropriate development and reward for individuals
HR manager salary expectations
According to PayScale, the median salary for an HR manager in the UK is £35,455; the average is £35,813. HR managers can expect to earn between £24,850 and £50,250 a year.
Find out more
If you're interested in finding out more about being an HR manager, consider the following: