Senior People Manager

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior People Manager to join Puma Capital Group’s People team, reporting to the Chief People Officer. This hands-on generalist role will partner with client groups across the organisation, combining sound commercial judgement with deep employee relations expertise. You will build trusted relationships, provide pragmatic advice and champion an inclusive, high-performing culture where colleagues collaborate respectfully, learn and receive supportive feedback. The role balances excellent day-to-day delivery with forward-looking People initiatives aligned to business priorities.

The business operates in the SME space and the incumbent will be equally happy operating at both a strategic level as well as demonstrating a real ‘muck-in’ attitude to work with the team to execute projects within a nimble and fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with leaders, managers and employees, providing pragmatic, commercially informed People advice.

• Partner with designated client groups, translating business priorities into practical People solutions.

• Lead complex employee relations matters, balancing employee experience, UK employment law and commercial considerations.

• Coach managers on performance, conduct, grievances, absence and other sensitive People matters.

• Identify emerging People risks and opportunities, taking proactive action and providing considered recommendations.

• Support organisational change, ensuring effective planning, communication and implementation.

• Drive effective performance, talent and development practices to support individual and organisational growth.

• Partner with Talent Acquisition on recruitment, selection, onboarding and retention within designated client groups.

• Use People data and insight to identify trends, inform decisions and improve employee experience.

• Develop effective People policies and practices, reflecting legislation, best practice and FCA regulatory requirements.

• Lead People projects and contribute to engagement, wellbeing and inclusion initiatives across the organisation.

• Act as a sounding board and guide on ER issues to less experienced staff within the team.

• Act as trusted support to the Chief People Officer, combining strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery.

Experience and Skills required

• Extensive HR generalist experience, including responsibility for designated client groups.

• Significant experience managing complex employee relations matters through to resolution.

• Practical, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and its application.

• Experience advising senior leaders and balancing employee, legal and commercial considerations.

• Sound judgement, with the ability to identify People risks and recommend pragmatic solutions.

• Experience across performance management, organisational change, talent and employee development.

• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with empathy, discretion and confidence to constructively challenge.

• A proactive, commercially minded approach, comfortable balancing strategic priorities with hands-on operational delivery.

• Experience within financial services or another regulated environment, and a professional HR qualification such as CIPD, would be beneficial.

Personal Attributes

• Kind

• Values-driven

• Excellent communicator

• Adaptable and willing to get stuck into whatever needs doing

• Depth of character and gravitas but operating with humility

• The drive and attitude to excel in a high performing environment whilst maintaining high levels of integrity

• Energy, dynamism, and passion for complex business challenge

• Organised, rigorous and disciplined

• Pragmatic and practical