HR Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

An HR Manager, or Personnel Manager, is a professional who oversees HR practices, processes and strategies. Their duties include overseeing the recruitment process, planning and implementing training programs for staff and ensuring that employees follow best practices and company policies.

 

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HR Manager duties and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of HR Managers will vary depending on the size of a company. HR Managers in smaller companies will have a broader range of tasks and may also take on duties that an HR Director in larger organisations would normally handle. In general, however, their tasks may include:

  • Overseeing recruitment, selection and the onboarding process
  • Managing a company’s appraisal system and conducting appraisal meetings
  • Ensuring that a company’s procedures comply with employment regulations
  • Managing and training the HR team
  • Monitoring various aspects of an employee’s performance, such as attendance and sick leave
  • Accessing the need for training and then designing and implementing training programs accordingly
  • Handling any disciplinary processes and formal grievances
  • Setting and reviewing pay structures and employee perks and benefits

 

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What does an HR Manager do?

An HR Manager helps an organisation run smoothly by ensuring that all company processes are compliant with employment regulations and that all personnel act in line with company policies. A large part of the job involves supporting current staff by dealing with employee grievances or conflicts. Thy also ensure that the company attracts the best candidates for open vacancies. Depending on the size of a company, HR Managers will either manage an entire HR department or oversee different functions within an HR department. 

 

HR Manager skills and qualifications

As the job of an HR Manager involves dealing with people on every level, they need to have excellent interpersonal skills and should enjoy social interaction. A successful HR Manager candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications including:

  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen and effectively verbalise ideas
  • Strong leadership skills to guide an HR team and support and motivate staff
  • A solid understanding of the key principles of employment law
  • The ability to remain calm in stressful situations including during disciplinary hearings or staff conflicts
  • Knowledge of the relevant computer systems and software programs including HRSmart software
  • Solid ethics and morals and sound judgement

 

HR Manager experience requirements

As is the case with most managerial positions, candidates should have at least three to five years of experience in a general HR role, such as an HR Assistant or HR Specialist. Depending on the seniority of the role and the size of the company, candidates may need to possess managerial experience. In addition, candidates may need experience in specific HR functions, such as the end-to-end recruitment process or working with payroll.

 

HR Manager education and training requirements

HR Managers need to hold either a higher national diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or Business Management. Depending on the position, some employers prefer candidates with a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management. They also consider candidates who gained relevant experience and knowledge through an apprenticeship and then worked their way up.

HR Managers are also required to obtain professional qualifications. In the U.K., a professional body like The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers qualifications like the CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Diploma in HR Management or the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in HR Management.

 

HR Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an HR Manager is £42,716 per year. Salaries, however, will vary according to the location of the company and the specific industry or business sector that the company operates in.

 

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HR Manager job description FAQs

 

What is the difference between an HR Manager and an HR Director?

Although the responsibilities of an HR Manager and HR Director overlap, there are distinctions. In a large company, an HR Director oversees a whole HR department, whereas an HR Manager may only manage a specific function, such as payroll. HR Directors also play a more executive role within the company, actively planning and creating HR strategies and company policies.

 

What is the work environment of an HR Manager like?

HR Managers work in an office setting and have regular office hours. At times, these professionals may need to travel if a company has more than one office. As the job can become stressful, these individuals must have the ability to remain calm under pressure.

 

Which industries employ HR Managers?

Although HR professionals work across a broad range of industries and business sectors, the sector that’s currently employing the most HR Managers is the professional and business sector, followed by scientific and technical services, manufacturing, government and healthcare services.

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