JOB TITLE HR Operations Manager
ROLE TYPE Full Time
DEPARTMENT HR
REPORTING TO HR Director
LOCATION Fitzrovia, London
SALARY Competitive
COMPANY PROFILE
Orlebar Brown (Chanel group) launched in March 2007 as a more tailored approach to men’s beach and swim shorts. Based on the traditional pattern of a tailored pair of trousers for men, and with their distinctive side fasteners, they are not just a swim short; they are the original and best shorts you can swim in.
Today, our collections are built into broader lifestyles imagined around Beach, Resort, Coast and Sport. We have multiple product releases, including capsules, new categories and services, over the calendar year to maintain excitement, and interest for our customers.
Since 2007, we have built the brand to achieve our stated purpose which is - to encourage, excite and inspire everyone to ‘Holiday Better’. This is our purpose and why we get out of bed every morning.
The brand has rapidly gained global recognition and is sold through online, more than 30 O.B. stores, and the best retailers and hoteliers in the world. Our customer is truly international, so whether they are in St Barth’s for Christmas with family, Miami for a wild Spring break, a conference in Dubai with a few days off, tacking a boat off the coast of St Tropez, volunteering to replant mangrove plantations in Puerto Rico, walking along a cliff top in Cornwall, or diving off one into a beautiful blue ocean then O.B. should be there to help you do it better.
Our business is built on relationships with those customers, and we strive to maintain our relationship with them, wherever they might be, and provide world class service, when and where they want. It is also built on finding new customers to the brand by welcoming them to join the ever-growing O.B. community.
THE POSITION
The HR Operations Manager leads the delivery of efficient, compliant and scalable People Operations across all regions, currently spanning the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. The role is responsible for building the operational infrastructure that enables an effective employee experience and supports business growth.
Working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners, the role drives operational excellence through clear processes, smart use of technology, accurate data and continuous improvement. It ensures global consistency where appropriate, while meeting local legal requirements and supporting business growth.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle:
· Own and improve end-to-end People Operations processes across the employee lifecycle.
· Simplify, standardise and automate processes to improve efficiency, consistency and the employee experience.
· Partner with the HR team to continuously improve recruitment operations, ensuring efficient processes, effective use of systems and a seamless candidate experience.
· Maintain clear SOPs, process documentation and knowledge resources to support consistency and business continuity.
· Manage HR Operations service delivery, workloads, service levels and operational capacity.
· Act as an escalation point for complex People Operations queries and issues.
Payroll, Benefits & Reward:
· Own multi-country payroll operations through external providers, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant processing.
· Partner with Finance and payroll vendors on governance, reconciliations, statutory reporting and pay-cycle accuracy.
· Maintain compliance with payroll legislation and statutory obligations, including tax, National Minimum Wage, IR35 and regional requirements.
· Support annual compensation reviews, salary changes and organisational updates.
· Manage employee benefits programmes with external providers, ensuring offerings are competitive, consistent and cost-effective.
People Systems & HR Technology:
· Own and optimise HR systems, including functionality, integrations, data integrity and user adoption.
· Identify and deliver system improvements that enhance efficiency, reporting and employee experience.
· Use automation, self-service and emerging HR technology to reduce manual work and improve service delivery.
· Partner with IT and external vendors to deliver system enhancements, integrations and ongoing optimisation.
· Support recruitment operations by optimising applicant tracking systems and hiring workflows, improving system utilisation, reporting, automation and the overall candidate and hiring manager experience through effective use of technology and data.
Compliance & Governance:
· Ensure compliance with employment legislation and employer obligations across all operating regions, including payroll, employer insurances, workers' compensation, minimum wage, GDPR and data privacy.
· Partner with Employee Relations and Legal to maintain compliant contracts, policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
· Own People data governance, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy and appropriate access controls.
· Lead People Operations audit activity, embedding robust controls and maintaining readiness for internal and external audits.
Data, Reporting & Operational Excellence:
· Produce People dashboards, KPIs and analytics to support decision-making and workforce planning.
· Analyse workforce trends, employee feedback and lifecycle data to identify improvements.
· Embed efficient, scalable and technology-enabled ways of working across People Operations.
· Monitor performance against KPIs and service levels, implementing best practice to improve quality, efficiency and scalability.
Stakeholder & Vendor Management:
· Build strong working relationships with HR, Finance, IT, parent company HR teams, business leaders and external providers.
· Manage payroll, benefits and HR technology vendors, ensuring high-quality service and continuous improvement.
· Provide practical guidance, training and support to managers and stakeholders on People processes, policies and systems.
Strategic Contribution:
· Contribute to the People Strategy through operational excellence, data insight and continuous improvement.
· Partner with leaders on workforce planning and organisational effectiveness, using People data to inform decisions.
· Evaluate People initiatives, identify operational risks and recommend practical improvements that support business objectives.
· Develop a customer-focused team known for efficient, consistent and scalable People Operations support.
· Support wider People team projects and provide cover during periods of absence where required.
· Identify opportunities to enhance the employee experience through improved processes, technology enablement and data-driven People solutions.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
We are looking for an experienced HR Operations professional who combines strong operational leadership with a practical, improvement-focused mindset. You will bring:
· Extensive HR Operations experience within a multi-country or international organisation, including ownership of payroll, HR systems, benefits and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
· Strong knowledge of payroll operations, outsourced payroll management, employee benefits and HR compliance.
· Experience managing HR systems, preferably HiBob, with a track record of improving processes, reporting and automation.
· Experience supporting recruitment technology and applicant tracking systems, with the ability to improve hiring processes through better workflows, data and automation.
· Good understanding of UK employment legislation, GDPR and employment compliance, with experience operating across multiple jurisdictions.
· Proven ability to simplify and improve People processes using technology, data and clear governance.
· Strong analytical skills, with experience producing People metrics, dashboards and insights.
· Excellent communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
· Experience leading projects, managing change and implementing new processes or systems.
· Experience coaching and developing team members, creating a culture of ownership, continuous improvement and excellent service delivery.
· Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growing and changing environment.
· Knowledge of AI, workflow automation and emerging HR technologies would be advantageous.
WHAT WE OFFER
Being part of a diverse working environment of people who we learn from every day
The chance to train and develop your skills in a fast-working environment
Competitive benefits package:
Physical wellbeing: Private medical insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and the ability to add family members, an online GP app with 24/7 appointments, available within 24 hours, and cycle scheme participation for tax-exempt bike and/or accessories purchase.
Financial wellbeing: Company pension scheme.
Lifestyle: Orlebar Brown and CHANEL product discounts and employee-only sales.
Employee Recognition: Service award incentives, 1-week office closure in August to practice what we preach (paid leave and separate from 25 days annual leave plus UK public holidays).
It’s never just a job at Orlebar Brown. It’s a way of life. We live and breathe our brand values – Tailored, Vibrant and Brave. Our team define who we are and how we get the job done.
At Orlebar Brown, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience and potential you could bring to Orlebar Brown.
Direct applications only. Recruitment agencies – thanks for reading – but we’ve got this one covered!