HR Manager - UK DC Operations

Employee Experience and Engagement 

• Build trusted relationships with employees, managers and leaders through a visible onsite presence and regular engagement across the datacentre environment.
• Develop a clear understanding of local employee and manager experiences, the culture of the site and emerging people risks, providing relevant insight to datacentre leadership and the wider HR team.
• Support the development and delivery of people plans and programmes that strengthen employee engagement and respond to the needs of the site.
• Act as a trusted and neutral resource for employees and managers, helping them access appropriate support through Microsoft’s HR operating model.
• Provide timely support on urgent or sensitive matters in accordance with Microsoft policies, processes and local employment requirements.
• Partner across HR to support effective delivery of services including onboarding, offboarding, employee support, tracking and reporting. 

Leadership and Manager Capability 

• Participate in datacentre leadership and team meetings, providing an HR perspective on site priorities, workforce needs, employee experience and people risk.
• Partner with UK datacentre leadership and the HR Business Partner team to strengthen manager capability through coaching, feedback, training and targeted interventions.
• Use employee feedback, HR case insights, organisational data and other listening channels to identify themes, recommend actions and support appropriate risk mitigation.
• Support managers and leaders through organisational change and promote inclusive and effective leadership practices.
• Build strong relationships across the broader Microsoft HR community and work effectively across HR disciplines to support the site. 

Projects, Programmes and Community 

• Deliver manager capability activities tailored to the professions, working patterns, shifts and needs of the site, using and adapting existing Microsoft resources where appropriate.
• Collaborate with Global Talent Acquisition, recruiters and the broader HR team to support recruitment, onboarding and a positive new-hire experience.
• Contribute to HR projects aligned with site, UK and EMEA priorities and lead defined workstreams where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to engage with local communities, professional networks, schools and other relevant stakeholders. 

Employee Relations and Operational Compliance 

• Maintain current knowledge of UK employment law and relevant regulatory developments, and provide guidance on the application of Microsoft HR policies and processes.
• Support the fair, consistent and timely management of employee relations matters, partnering with HR Business Partners and specialist teams where required.
• Identify and escalate emerging employee relations, organisational or compliance risks and support the development of appropriate responses.
• Support employee information and consultation requirements and work with employee representative bodies or trade unions where applicable.
• Support the implementation and local application of changes to policies, programmes and employment practices.
• Handle sensitive and confidential employee information with care, judgement and discretion. 

Crisis Management, Wellbeing and Business Continuity 

• Partner with site leadership and relevant specialist teams on the people-related elements of crisis management, emergency response and business-continuity planning.
• Provide onsite HR support during significant site incidents or periods of organisational disruption, where required, and connect employees and managers with appropriate wellbeing resources.
• Partner with site leadership and specialist teams to support employee wellbeing and the people aspects of health, safety and workplace matters. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Law, Business, Psychology or a related field AND deep experience in providing hands-on HR support (e.g organisational change, manager capability, workforce programmes, employee consultation, etc) for employees and managers in an operational or employee-facing environment.
  • OR equivalent professional experience. 
• Solid knowledge of UK employment law and experience supporting employee relations matters.  
• Ability to work onsite at the Park Royal datacentre and periodically engage with colleagues working evening, night or weekend shifts. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• CIPD membership or another relevant HR professional qualification. 
• Prior exposure working in a data centre, manufacturing/factory environment, or other relevant 24/7 mission-critical set-up.
• Experience working with employee representative bodies or trade unions.  
• Strong judgement, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to manage sensitive matters appropriately. 
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and work effectively with employees, managers and business leaders.