The Role

Our fantastic People Team currently have an exciting opportunity for an experienced People Operations Manager to join us in London.

The People Operations Manager reports to the Head of People Partnering and Operations and acts as the operational expert and engine room of the People team. They are primarily responsible for supporting one of our core business areas to deliver a variety of operational, strategic, and tactical People activity, and work together with managers across their respective business area to deliver on all elements of the local people plan.

They will be a trusted advisor to their line managers and provide oversight and guidance on Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition and Development, Employee Engagement and all other aspects of the day-to-day people agenda. They will be comfortable operating in a commercial environment as part of a matrix team, whilst championing employees in all that they do.

What You`ll Be Doing

Employee and Manager Support:
- Deliver outstanding relationship management to employees and managers on people-specific issues, ER risks, and opportunities.
- Provide support, coaching and consultation to the business, answering employee and manager queries about people programs, policies, and other topics.
- Liaise regularly, both in person, and over teams, with line managers to help support them to drive the best results for our business and achieve our 1:10:30 goals e.g. attending team meetings / RLTs and presenting on people initiatives or connecting managers with other specialists to help support their goals.

Operational Excellence:
- Keep an ear to the ground on local issues to ensure the best workplace experience for your business area.
- Mitigate risk with close management of complex or high-profile employee relations cases in collaboration with the ER Specialist and Head of People Partnering and Operations.
- Support on people change or transformation activity, including TUPE or organisational restructuring.
- Liaise with multiple people team specialists to resolve various day-to-day people issues.

Support and execute local People Plans:
- Support line managers and business area leaders to implement their local people plan.
- Support the planning and roll-out of wider people programs and initiatives.
- Assist Group People Partners / Head of People Partnering and Operations in delivering the overall People Plan for their business area.
- Escalate risks and issues across People Partnering and Operations team with recommendations for resolution or mitigation.

Data and Insights:
- Use data to find patterns that will improve quality, efficiency, and the overall employee experience for your business area.
- Maintain an independent perspective and use data-driven insights to support Head of People Partnering and Operations and inform people-related decisions and strategy.

Employee Experience:
- Seek new ways to improve the employee experience across the organisation and your respective business area.
- Identify opportunities to improve people policies and propose solutions to enhance employee experience.
- Oversee a seamless and positive experience for employees throughout their lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding.

What We`re Looking for in You

Operational Expertise:
- Strong understanding of day-to-day people operations, employment law, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
Relationship Management:
- Excellent relationship-building skills with the ability to manage employee and manager interactions effectively.
Problem Solving:
- Strong problem-solving skills and professional curiosity with the ability to identify issues, propose solutions, and implement changes.
Data Analysis:
- Proficiency in analysing data to identify trends and insights that drive operational improvements.
Communication Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely.
Adaptability:
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same, and priorities can shift rapidly.
Employee Advocacy:
- Passion for enhancing the employee experience and ensuring a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
Experience:
- Proven experience in a People Operations, HR, or similar role, preferably within a fast-paced environment.
- Strong operational and organisational skills with a keen attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and resolve day-to-day people issues effectively.
- Experience with HR systems and data analysis tools.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders.

What You`ll Get in Return

A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.

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People Operations Manager