HR Manager

HR Manager

Hours: Part – Time - 10.5 hours per week over 2 days; on site; on day must be a Tuesday

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £15,000.00 (£50,000.00 pro rata based on a 35-hour week)

Location: Holborn, London, EC1N 2HH

About Gresham College

Gresham College, a charitable institution founded in 1597, is dedicated to providing free, high-quality public education across diverse subjects. With more than 50 million online lecture views, our mission remains to inspire a love of learning and uphold academic rigor and freedom of expression.

Currently, the College is in the final year of a five-year plan focussed on expanding and diversifying our audience, while a new five-year funding commitment secures our continued growth and programme development. Our academic schedule consists of around 100 public lectures — 60 by our 10 professors, 40 curated annually, and 10-20 provided for young people in schools, including a developing oracy competition.

About the Role

The HR Manager will oversee all HR functions at the college, supporting the Executive Director and management in attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining staff, temporary workers, and volunteers. This is a hands-on generalist role dealing with a wide range of HR responsibilities and requires building excellent relationships with our team of 17 employees.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance

• Advise on employment law, HR policies, and ensure legal compliance.
• Administer onboarding and pre-employment checks for new starters.
• Maintain HR records (including Breathe HR database).
• Develop and review HR policies and procedures.
• Assist with monthly payroll information for finance.
• Prepare HR statistics and reports.
• Benchmark pay and benefits; monitor market trends.

Welfare & Engagement

• Foster a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
• Serve as first contact for all HR queries.
• Run staff engagement surveys and present recommendations.
• Hold exit interviews and manage sickness absence processes.
• Conduct return-to-work meetings and manage absenteeism in line with policy.

Recruitment

• Oversee the recruitment process to ensure compliance with policy.
• Prepare job descriptions, adverts, and interview schedules; participate in interviews as needed.

Performance Management

• Support effective staff appraisal processes and timely annual reviews.
• Advise managers, following external HR insurance (HR Solutions) guidance, on performance, disciplinary, and grievance matters.
• Monitor probations for new staff and support managers/employees.

Training & Development

• Identify and deliver training/development (including induction).
• Offer advice and coaching on ER issues (absence, discipline, grievances, performance, recruitment, development).

Other

• Lead on HR projects and undertake other reasonable duties as needed.

Person Specification

We seek an HR professional with broad generalist experience and strong employment law knowledge:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent) minimum.
• Confident, enthusiastic, discreet, and professional.
• Up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage confidential information.
• Personable, approachable, and maintains an “open door” ethos.
• Experience with HR databases (Breathe HR desirable) and MS Office.

What Gresham College Offers

Gresham College is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our recruitment and employment practices.

Benefits:

• 10.5 working hours per week over 2 days (on-site)
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 6 extra days at Christmas/Easter (pro rata)
• 15% employer pension contribution
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• Season ticket loan
• Competitive salary (DOE)

If this role interests you, please apply with your CV and a covering letter.

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