Group People and Culture Operations Manager

About Pickering

The Pickering Group Ltd is a multinational group of electronics manufacturers headquartered in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, with worldwide operations. The Group comprises three companies: Pickering Electronics, which manufactures reed relays; Pickering Interfaces, which produces switching systems; and Pickering Connect, which supplies supporting cables and connectors. Pickering employs about 600 people across two manufacturing facilities in the UK and the Czech Republic, along with over nine direct sales and support offices throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. All three companies are known for delivering innovative, high-quality products for the test and measurement industry—a sector experiencing significant growth driven by rapid technological advancement, increasing global regulation, and the rising complexity of electronic products.

What You Can Expect as a P&C Operations Manager at Pickering:

The P&C Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day P&C processes and ensures efficient, compliant, and high-quality support to Pickerings employees. This role leads a team of three professionals and is responsible for systems, employee data, recruitment coordination, workflow optimisation, employee relations support, AI adoption, and operational excellence across the P&C function.

A core part of this role is ensuring that the Pickering’s family-oriented, people-first culture is consistently reflected in P&C process, interaction, and decision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of three.
• Allocate workload, set priorities, and ensure timely delivery of P&C services.
• Implement best practices to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.
• Monitor team performance and provide ongoing feedback and support.
  
  

HR Systems, AI & Data Management

• Oversee the HRIS and maintain employee data integrity.
• Identify opportunities to introduce AI to improve efficiency whilst ensuring any change is implemented thoughtfully and ethically.

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment administration, ensuring timely and accurate hiring processes.
• Partner with hiring managers to coordinate job postings, interview scheduling, and candidate communication.
• Support screening, shortlisting, and initial candidate assessments where required.
• Drive improvements in recruitment workflows, tools, and candidate experience.
• Collaborate with external recruitment agencies when needed.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Support the P&C team in ensuring seamless onboarding, induction, and offboarding processes.
• Oversee contract preparation, letters, and documentation.
• Manage employee changes (promotions, transfers, salary updates, benefits changes).
• Ensure compliance with company policies and legal/regulatory requirements.

Payroll & Benefits Coordination

• Support the Senior People and Culture Office in the payroll process to ensure accurate and timely processing of employee data.
• Oversee the monitoring benefits administration.
• Ensure all employee data changes are processed accurately and according to deadlines.

Policy, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure policies comply with legal requirements.
• Support internal/external audits and maintain clear documentation.
• Assist with updating policies while ensuring they align with Pickering’s people-first ethos.

Employee Relations (ER) Support

• Support managers in handling low– to mid-complexity ER matters (attendance concerns, policy questions, performance issues, informal complaints).
• Escalate complex ER cases to Head of P&C as appropriate.
• Ensure ER issues are documented, tracked, and resolved promptly and respectfully.
• Promote consistent, compassionate application of policies.

Process Improvement & Projects

• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.
• Lead or contribute to P&C projects such as system upgrades, AI initiatives, and workflow redesigns.
• Drive continuous improvement within the P&C Department.

Performance Management

• Support the administration and coordination of performance review cycles.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees on performance procedures.
• Track completion rates and ensure consistency across teams.

Employee Wellbeing

• Support the delivery of wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Promote a healthy, supportive workplace aligned with Pickering’s family-first ethos.

CSR

• Support the People, Culture and Engagement Officer in CSR initiatives, charity events, community engagement, and volunteering programmes.

Training & Development

• Support in the administration and scheduling of training, workshops, and learning programmes.
• Maintain training records and track completion rates.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• CIPD level 5.
• HR operations experience.
• Supervisory or management role.
• Experience in managing employee relations.
• Experience using AI or automation tools in HR.
• Hands-on recruitment support experience.

Technical Skills:

• Strong proficiency in HRIS management and reporting tools.
• Understanding of payroll processes and benefits administration.
• Excellent data accuracy, analytical skills, and documentation practices.
• Knowledge of managing sponsorship.
• Sound employment law knowledge.

Soft Skills:

• Genuine commitment to a family-oriented, people-first workplace culture, ensuring empathy and respect in all employee interactions.
• Strong leadership and coaching capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Balanced decision-making that considers people, culture, and operational needs.
• Continuous-improvement mindset and strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

What You Can Expect from Pickering:

People are at the heart of Pickering. We believe that each employee contributes directly to Pickering’s growth and success, in return we offer: 

• A competitive salary
  
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Buying and selling holiday. Employees can buy up to 10 days.
  
• Life Insurance x4 annual salary (Capped at £50k per annum)
• Corporate membership at the local gym and spa
• A thorough induction program, including a Pickering Pal being assigned to you to ensure you feel welcome and to check in on you during your probation
• Regular reviews and performance related pay increases (subject to business conditions)
• Employee wellbeing and mental health support through our partnership with Mind
• Wellbeing Program with Spa Medical
• Paid company social events such as a summer festival and Christmas party
• Career progression
• Training programmes
• Sponsoring further education
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Potential for Worldwide Business Travel (role dependant)
• Free tea, coffee, and fresh fruit
  
  

This role description is intended to provide a general overview of the role and its responsibilities. It is not exhaustive and may be subject to change to meet the needs of Pickering.

Please note that this role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.