People Operations Manager

Job Title: People Operations Manager – Hours: 37.5 per week – Location: Harrogate / Horsforth / Halifax About Oakdale Group: For nearly 25 years, Oakdale has proudly supported individuals and communities as a trusted not‑for‑profit provider of high‑quality, bespoke psychological services. With a strong reputation for delivering evidence‑based therapy and assessments, our multidisciplinary team supports children, young people, adults, families, and professionals through a wide range of services including autism and ADHD assessments, trauma‑informed therapy, and mental health support for NHS staff and school pupils. We operate from Clinical Centres in Harrogate, Leeds and Halifax, with a growing remote service offered nationwide. Our mission is simple: to provide exceptional, flexible, and accessible care that places clients at the heart of everything we do. About the Role We’re looking for a People Operations Manager to join our People Operations team. Reporting to the Head of People Operations, you’ll take on a key people management role, leading and supporting the People Operations team while maintaining hands‑on responsibility for core HR activities. This is an exciting promotion opportunity for someone with strong HR experience who is ready to step fully into people management. You’ll manage the team, support their development and performance, and also lead operational activities such as talent acquisition, employee relations, learning and development, engagement, and payroll. What You’ll Be Doing Manage the People Operations team, providing day‑to‑day leadership, guidance, and support Conduct team appraisals, coaching, and professional development in partnership with the Head of People Operations Mentor and support team members to grow their skills, confidence, and performance Foster a collaborative, positive, and inclusive team culture Support workload planning to ensure the team delivers high‑quality People Operations support Identify training needs in collaboration with leaders Support the design and delivery of training and development initiatives Coordinate internal and external learning opportunities Contribute to leadership development and apprenticeship planning Talent Acquisition Lead and support recruitment processes end‑to‑end – from adverts to offers Work with hiring managers to ensure a smooth and positive candidate experience Maintain ATS and careers page accuracy Monitor and report on recruitment activity and key metrics Support workforce planning and attraction strategies Continuously review and improve recruitment processes People & Culture (Generalist HR) Provide guidance on policies, employment law, and HR best practice Lead and advise on employee relations matters including absence, performance, grievance, and disciplinary cases Coach managers to handle people matters confidently Champion staff wellbeing, engagement, equality, diversity, and inclusion Support onboarding, probation, and induction processes Compliance and Governance Oversee and maintain the Single Central Record, ensuring full compliance with statutory and safeguarding requirements Lead on HR compliance and governance, including safer recruitment, data protection, and policy implementation Conduct regular audits and checks to ensure documentation, processes, and record‑keeping meet internal and external standards Payroll & People Operations Line management of the HR and payroll team Ensure accurate and timely submission of payroll information Maintain HR systems and employee data with accuracy and compliance Support cyclical People Operations activities including pay reviews, performance reviews, and engagement surveys Contribute to organisation‑wide projects and continuous improvement initiatives What We’re Looking For Strong experience in generalist HR with a particular strength in talent acquisition Experience managing or mentoring colleagues, with readiness to lead a team fully Good knowledge of employee relations processes and HR best practice Experience working with HRIS and ATS platforms Exposure to payroll processes and basic payroll oversight Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to build trust and credibility Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast‑paced environment Meticulous attention to detail and a ‘starter‑finisher’ mindset, ensuring all tasks are completed to a high standard and maintaining compliance Collaborative, supportive, and focused on developing others What You’ll Get from Us The opportunity to step fully into a people management role in a supportive, growing organisation A positive and inclusive work environment 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (rising with service) Enhanced occupational sick pay Enhanced pension contribution Cycle to work and tech schemes Fully funded flu vaccinations Employee discounts and wellbeing support Agile and flexible working from day one Ongoing CPD and professional development #J-18808-Ljbffr