HR & Recruitment Manager
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Department: HR & Recruitment
Reports To: India Operations & Office Manager / UK Directors
Location / Hours: Vadodara, Gujarat / UK-aligned hours

ROLE SUMMARY

Henley Retail Group is seeking a commercially minded HR & Recruitment Manager to manage recruitment, onboarding, employee administration and day-to-day HR coordination for its UK retail businesses and India Head Office. The role will work closely with Directors, Store Managers, employees, payroll providers and the company's UK HR advisers.

The postholder will maintain professional, well-documented people processes and implement approved HR advice rather than provide independent legal advice. The role requires the confidence to give an honest, evidence-based HR view and to challenge proposed action where it appears unfair, unsupported, inconsistent or unnecessarily risky.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Manage recruitment from role definition and job advertising through sourcing, screening, interviews, references, offers and onboarding.
- Assess candidates for relevant experience, fluent professional English, critical thinking, AI capability, stability, integrity and long-term career motivation.
- Prepare and maintain contracts, offer documents, induction records, right-to-work evidence, employee files and new-starter documentation.
- Maintain accurate records for holidays, sickness, attendance, probation, performance, training, pay changes and employment status.
- Support Store Managers and Head Office managers with recruitment, interviews, return-to-work meetings, absence and routine people-management processes.
- Coordinate disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance and employee-relations matters in line with approved procedures and advice from the company's HR advisers.
- Prepare qualified HR letters, meeting notes, investigation records and case files, ensuring confidentiality and a complete audit trail.
- Support Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence administration, sponsored-worker records, right-to-work compliance, reporting duties and audit readiness.
- Provide accurate payroll-ready employee changes, holidays, sickness, hours and other approved information to Finance and the payroll provider.
- Maintain policies, handbooks, templates and HR SOPs, controlling versions and implementing approved changes across the business.
- Coordinate mandatory training, certificates, manager development and HR compliance records with the Compliance function.
- Produce recruitment and workforce reports covering vacancies, time to hire, turnover, absence, retention, performance and people risks.
- Coach managers on fair, consistent and professional people management and identify practical improvements to attraction,



onboarding and retention.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

- Minimum 10 years of progressive HR and recruitment experience, including employee relations and professional HR documentation.
- Completed CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management or CIPD Level 7 qualification is essential; current Associate or Chartered CIPD membership is strongly preferred.
- Sound working knowledge of UK employment processes, right-to-work requirements and disciplined case management; multi-site retail experience is advantageous.
- Experience supporting international managers and using English as the principal language for meetings, calls and professional correspondence.
- Excellent discretion, record keeping, judgement and confidence handling difficult conversations; Sponsor Licence experience is advantageous.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

- Strong recruitment outcomes and reduced delays in filling vacancies.
- Accurate, complete and audit-ready employee and Sponsor Licence records.
- Timely onboarding, payroll information and employment documentation.
- Fair, well-managed and properly evidenced employee-relations processes.
- Improved manager capability, retention and workforce visibility.
- Early identification and escalation of material people risks.

CANDIDATE STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT

ROLE-SPECIFIC CANDIDATE PROFILE

For this role, the candidate must be discreet, fair and evidence-led, able to handle sensitive or difficult employee matters without avoiding necessary conversations, and prepared to challenge managers or Directors professionally where the facts do not support a proposed course of action.

CORE WORKING STANDARDS

Henley Retail Group requires employees who think independently, take ownership of work and manage their own tasks, priorities, follow-ups and deadlines without repeated reminders.

Employees must investigate concerns using evidence, identify risks and missing information, challenge unclear or unsuitable instructions respectfully and return with practical recommendations rather than simply reporting problems. They must communicate early where a deadline, accuracy or completeness is at risk and remain responsible for progressing work that depends on colleagues, suppliers or third parties. Completing a task includes maintaining accurate records, capturing reusable learning and ensuring relevant procedures,



supplier information and SOPs remain current, controlled and usable by others.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY - ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT

Henley Retail Group has used artificial intelligence extensively across its operations for the past two years and now works at an advanced level. AI is embedded in how we research, analyse information, compare options, prepare qualified communications, solve unfamiliar problems, improve processes and increase productivity.

Candidates must already be confident and regular users of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude or comparable platforms. This is not a role for someone who has not yet adopted AI, uses it only occasionally for basic drafting or intends to learn how to use it after joining. From the outset, the successful candidate must be able to use AI independently and effectively to:

- Conduct research and structured comparisons, analysing information for gaps, inconsistencies, assumptions and risks.
- Draft and improve professional communications, reports and recommendations.
- Solve unfamiliar problems, develop practical options and apply independent professional judgement.
- Improve efficiency, reduce repetitive work and develop better processes, workflows and reusable methods.
- Provide clear context and instructions, refine prompts and improve initial outputs through iteration.
- Challenge, verify and correct AI-generated information rather than accepting it without checking, remaining accountable for the final work.
- Protect confidential, personal and commercially sensitive information and use only approved tools and methods.
Role-specific AI use includes recruitment research, candidate comparisons, drafting and improving HR communications, summarising non-confidential information, workforce reporting and process improvement. Personal and special-category employee data must never be entered into an unapproved AI system.

Candidates must provide clear examples of how they already use AI in professional work and explain how it has improved speed, quality, accuracy, productivity or decision-making. Basic familiarity with AI, occasional use or a willingness to learn after joining will not meet the requirements of the role.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT ASSESSMENT

Shortlisted candidates will complete mandatory practical assessments covering critical thinking, independent problem-solving, task management, follow-through, SOP ownership, evidence-based investigation, constructive challenge, reliable delivery, professional communication, personal accountability and responsible AI use. A role-specific work sample may also be required. Appointment will be subject to meeting Henley Retail Group's required assessment standard.

📌 Senior HR & Recruitment Specialist UK Operations (Vadodara)
🏢 Henley Retail Group
📍 Vadodara