Interim HR Manager (Maternity Cover)

About the Company:

Duncan & Todd Group is one of the leading optical and hearing care providers based in Scotland. In operation for over 50 years, our brands include: Duncan and Todd, 2020, Douglas Dickie, JM Macdonald, James Hughes, Browns, IC Andrew, and Smart Employee Eyecare.

About the Role:

The Interim HR Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the HR and Payroll function, taking the lead in providing comprehensive support in areas such as employee relations, recruitment, and compliance with employment laws. In this role, the Interim HR Manager will provide support and guidance to the team in order to ensure that our company values, culture and employee engagement is at the forefront for all interactions and actions, while ensuring that policies and procedures are applied accordingly.

The Interim HR Manager will play a key role in supporting the Senior Leadership Team, Retail and Caledonian Optical teams in various day-to-day HR-related matters to ensure that appropriate guidance and frameworks are applied to ensuring seamless integration of HR practices with operational goals

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Manage the day-to-day performance of the HR team, ensuring adherence to exceptional performance standards in all interactions and actions.
• Ensure that the HR team delivers a high standard of day-to-day operational delivery to provide a comprehensive HR service to the business and our employees.
• Take the lead on HR processes, ensuring the implementation of high quality HR transactional processes.
• Support the team and be the point of escalation for HR and employee relations issues, including but not limited to absence management, disciplinary actions, grievances, capability assessments, redundancy, ill health, and long-term sickness, and ensure that matters are handled in a professional manner, in line with company and legal requirements.
• Provide HR expertise to the team in relation to managing organisational and structural change, such as acquisitions, TUPE transfers, redundancy, and restructuring programs.
• Work proactively to identify where employment practices, policies, and procedures need to be developed or revised to meet company needs or external requirements.
• Support the finalisation of payroll elements impacted by HR actions and transactions, ensuring the smooth running and accuracy of the monthly payroll across all 4 pay groups.
• In addition to the management of the team, the Interim HR Manager will have HR responsibilities for designated areas of the company, where they will provide first line advice, guidance, and support with matters including employee relation matters and sickness absence management. They will also be required to undertake a range of associated general HR transactional activities to ensure the successful closeout of HR matters related to the designated area.
• Support with the design and delivery of onboarding and internal training courses to ensure understanding of company values, culture, and other HR related aspects.
• Ensure that processes are maintained that provide monitoring and delivery of mandatory and discipline specific training and competence profiles, and professional accreditations.
• Oversee recruitment activities, including participating in the recruitment and selection process and ensuring alignment with company practices and legal requirements.
• Undertake branch visits, to cultivate a positive relationship with on-site teams and to promote the effective implementation of HR practices with managers, ensuring a collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team with any other tasks deemed necessary for the success of the HR function.

This list is non-exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional duties that are not specifically listed above.

Skills/Qualifications

• Experience as a senior HR Leader, preferably in a fast-growing organisation.
• Deep understanding of all areas of HR, from organisational development and talent acquisition to employee relations, rewards, and HR operations.
• Minimum 5 years of HR experience, with at least 3 years in senior role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment and manage multiple priorities.