Senior HR Manager

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2 million flights each year. It provides air traffic control services, as well as a wide range of commercial solutions to over 30 countries internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe. 

Job Purpose

The Senior Human Resources Manager will work in close partnership with senior leaders to deliver pragmatic, commercially aligned people solutions that support organisational performance, growth and long-term sustainability.

The role will operate in a complex and evolving environment, supporting workforce change, organisational transformation, employee relations, and global expansion, while ensuring robust governance, compliance and effective engagement with employees and representative bodies.

Accountabilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Partner with senior leaders to shape and deliver people strategies aligned to business objectives and operational priorities.
• Provide trusted, solutions-focused HR advice across the full employee lifecycle.
• Act as a critical sounding board to leaders on people risk, organisational design and workforce planning.
  
  

Operational HR

• Provide expert guidance across the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment support, onboarding, probation management, performance management, absence management, disciplinaries, grievances and exits.
• Advise managers on employment contracts, policy application, benchmarking and package creation and general HR queries.
• Support annual people processes such as performance reviews, pay & allowance review cycles, promotions and organisational planning.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation across employee records and HR systems.
  
  

Organisational Change & Workforce Evolution

• Support and deliver organisational change initiatives, including workforce redesign, operating model changes and business transformation.
• Provide expert guidance on change management approaches, consultation frameworks and employee engagement during periods of change.
• Create and implement country specific HR compliant frameworks for existing and new country entry.
• Ensure change activity is delivered in a compliant, well-governed and employee-focused manner.
  
  

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Lead on complex employee relations matters, providing pragmatic advice to leaders while mitigating organisational risk.
• Support effective engagement with employee representative forums and recognised bodies, fostering constructive and professional relationships.
• Advise on collective processes, consultation requirements and dispute resolution in line with legal and organisational frameworks.
  
  

Growth, Integration & Global Expansion

• Lead people strategy elements linked to business growth, integration activity and expansion into new markets in collaboration with Head of HR.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to support workforce planning, employment frameworks and compliance in new or evolving operating environments.
• Contribute to the development of scalable people processes that support growth and organisational maturity.
  
  

Policy, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure HR policies, practices and frameworks remain compliant with employment legislation and aligned to best practice.
• Provide expert guidance on employment risk, contractual considerations and governance requirements during periods of organisational change.
• Monitor legislative developments and advise leaders on implications and mitigation strategies.
  
  

Leadership Coaching & Capability

• Coach and challenge leaders to build high-performing, engaged and inclusive teams.
• Support leadership capability in managing change, performance, conduct and employee engagement.
• Oversee succession planning, talent development and organisational capability initiatives.
  
  

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Proven experience in a Senior HR Business Partner/Manager role or similar within a complex and fast-paced organisation.
• Strong experience supporting organisational change, workforce transformation and restructuring activity.
• In-depth knowledge of Middle East employment law and employee relations best practice plus additional geographies such as APAC (desirable)
• Experience working with employee representative structures and consultation processes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders on complex people matters.
• Commercially astute with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
• Experience supporting business growth, integration or operating model change.
• Exposure to multi-site, unionised or regulated environments.
• Experience contributing to international or cross-border people initiatives.
• Credible, resilient and confident operating at senior leadership level.
• Highly professional with strong judgement and discretion.
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and sensitive change activity.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build trust and influence outcomes.
• Values-driven and employee-focused, with a strong commercial mindset.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Sound understanding of International Employment Law and HR practices across multiple geographies (MENA & APAC)
• Experience engaging with trade unions or employee representatives.
• Degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field; CIPD Level 5 or above.
  
  

Additional Vacancy Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. For more information, please visit International - NATS

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us to be at the forefront of our industry.

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