People Advisory Team Manager

Company Description

About us

Hello, we’re Reach. Every day, our trusted news, stories and content connect with millions of people where they live - whether that’s on their social feed or at their neighbourhood newsstand; through their local community or their take on the hot topic of the day.

We're home to more than 120 brands - from household names like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star and Daily Record, to local titles like MyLondon, BelfastLive, and the Manchester Evening News, and brands making a splash in the US like the Irish Star.

It's our ability to understand people and the things that matter to them that makes us Britain and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher. We reach around 70% of the UK's online population, 10% of the US online population, and over 100 million social followers around the world, connecting with them on who they are, where they live and what they love.

Your story, with Reach

As a modern media organisation, we're much more than just news. And it takes a wide range of people and skills to serve diverse audiences, customers and communities like we do.

We know everyone has their own story to tell, so we’ve built an environment where every background is respected and every day is a day to explore.

We’ll help you build a career that works with your life, while giving you the space to create and grow.

About this role

As a key member of the Reach HR Services Management team, you’ll lead and operationally manage a team of People Advisors and Senior People Advisors, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, trusted people advisory service across the business.

Reporting to the Head of People Relations & Policy, you’ll play a pivotal role in developing both the team and the service, driving efficiency, consistency and excellence in how people matters are handled. You’ll help foster a strong people culture, proactively identifying and mitigating risk from both an employment law and commercial perspective.

You’ll ensure managers receive timely, accurate and pragmatic advice on a wide range of people matters, while confidently managing escalated, complex or sensitive cases. This includes assessing risk early, knowing when to escalate, and ensuring appropriate senior involvement where required.

As a people leader, you’ll set clear direction through regular 1:1s, team meetings and coaching, aligning individual objectives with the wider departmental strategy. You’ll actively drive engagement, role-model effective communication, and support the development of people managers through feedback and coaching during live people matters.

Alongside this, you’ll manage team capacity and resources to meet business demand, ensure strong governance and adherence to process, oversee relevant third-party contracts, and use management information to drive continuous improvement. You’ll also support the Head of People Relations & Policy and the wider People Experience team with projects, policy updates and service development initiatives.

What you need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring strong technical knowledge, proven people leadership experience and a genuine passion for delivering a high-quality people advisory service.

Knowledge & Experience

• Solid, up-to-date knowledge of employment law, with a clear commitment to continuous learning
• Proven experience in a senior HR or People Advisory role
• Experience leading, supervising or developing HR Advisors
• Strong track record of influencing managers both face-to-face and remotely
• Experience supporting or managing business-wide change initiatives
• Experience working with trade unions

Skills

• Ability to adapt your leadership style to coach, support and influence a wide range of personalities and learning styles
• Confidence in delivering clear, accurate and commercially focused advice, while developing the capability of people managers
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels and across multiple channels
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage high work volumes alongside your own operational caseload
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment

How we'll look after you

We take good care of our people - and that means more than just a pay packet. Whatever your role, you'll get a range of benefits, including:

• 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays), as well as an extra day after you've been with us for three, five and 10 years. We also have a scheme to help you buy extra holiday if you want to.
• An extra day's paid leave each year to volunteer for a cause close to your community or your heart.
• Big moment day - an extra day’s paid leave for a moment that matters to you - like getting married, moving house or welcoming a new addition to the family (human or furry!)
• Bonus scheme - you'll get a stake in our success and a chance to add to your annual earnings.
• Help saving for your retirement - we'll match your company pension contributions up to 6% and you can contribute through salary sacrifice.
• Supportive and progressive people policies - we’re proud to have a range of policies to support people in their lives in and outside work, including enhanced family leave and policies to promote flexibility, inclusion and progression. We believe you shouldn’t have to wait to join us to know what to expect from us, which is why we share this overview of the policies we have in place to support families and carers. If there's something you want to understand more about, just ask - it won’t make a difference to your application.
• A healthcare cash plan - giving you money back for a range of medical expenses and fast access to doctor's appointments.
• Car lease scheme - you can buy a brand new electric or hybrid car through our leasing partner, and pay for it through salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 assistance programme for you and your family.
• Access to lots of discounts - including 15% off with Reach's very own online marketplace, Yimbly, where you can buy everything from homewares to beauty products.
• Interest-free loans - including for season tickets and technology.

Additional Information

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.