Job Pack HR Manager Thank you for your interest in working at Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre. In this job pack you will find information about: ● Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre ● The HR Manager role including job description/person specification ● Benefits of working for Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre ● Our approach to equality and diversity ● The application process Timescale for applications: ● Closing date: 19 November 2025 midday ● Interviews: 26 November 2025 Applications received after this time and date will not be considered. Please also note that CVs are not accepted as part of the application process. Due to high levels of interest in our roles, we are unable to respond individually to applicants who are not invited to interview. If you do not hear from us by 24.11.2025, you should assume you are not being invited to interview on this occasion. Applications should be sent to: jobs@citizensadviceleeds.org.uk Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre is a local charity working for a fairer society where people are free from the effects of poverty and social injustice. We help individuals, families and communities by offering free advice and representation and challenging systemic injustice. We have deep roots in the local community, dating back to 1939 when we first opened our doors, and have been providing free advice to Leeds residents ever since. Our status as a Law Centre is more recent, having joined the Law Centres Network in 2024, but is built on our long experience in working for social justice, locally and nationally. Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre is the largest provider of free and independent advice in the city, helping 35,000 people a year through telephone, online and face-to-face services delivered at over 12 locations citywide. We have around 75 employees and 30 volunteers at any time, the majority of whom are advisers delivering services that include: ● Generalist advice covering Benefits, Debt, Employment, Housing, Immigration and other social welfare law matters. ● Casework/legal advice in Benefits, Debt, Housing and Immigration. ● Outreach advice sessions for people experiencing mental health issues and for families with young children. The HR Manager will join our management team consisting of the CEO, two Service Directors, Service Delivery Manager, Finance Manager, IT Manager and Learning & Development Manager. Together, we ensure that Leeds CALC meets high quality standards in advice delivery and organisation management, meeting the membership standards of Citizens Advice and the Law Centres Network, as well as the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard, Money and Pensions Service and the Financial Conduct Authority. Our Board of Trustees are responsible for the governance of the organisation, consisting of nine local people with a wealth of experience including charity governance and management, legal advice services and financial management. The Board meets nine times a year to set the strategic direction of the organisation, monitor performance and ensure compliance with charity and company requirements. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 The role Job title HR Manager Location Salary Hours Leeds CALC offices in Leeds city centre, & hybrid working £38,220 - £40,777 p.a. full-time, depending on qualifications and experience Full-time and part-time applications will be considered (at least 25 hours pw) Reports to Chief Executive Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre is seeking an HR Manager to join our team who has the skills, experience and confidence to lead on employee relations matters and HR initiatives. The HR Manager will work closely with other managers to support them in the application of policies and procedures and provide expert advice on employment relations matters. They will also play a lead role in the development of initiatives that promote inclusivity, high performance and wellbeing across the organisation. In addition the HR Manager will play a key role in workforce planning and development, leveraging data and insights to inform decision making and ensuring that HR policies and processes are effective and compliant. Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre has 75 employees, most of whom work in our public facing advice services, supported by around 30 volunteers. Our team is exceptional in their commitment to providing outstanding services to clients, a commitment we endeavour to reward through excellent terms and conditions, including competitive rates of pay and pension contribution, and family friendly policies including flexible and hybrid working. We also have a recognition agreement with Unison, covering all non-management roles, and hold regular Joint Negotiating Committee meetings between the Unison and Trustee representatives. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is central to all that we do, as a service provider and an employer, and is embedded in our policies and procedures. If you’d like to work for an organisation that is making a real difference to improving people’s lives, and you have the qualifications and experience we are looking for, we’d love to receive your application. Details of the HR Manager responsibilities and the attributes we’re looking for can be found overleaf. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Job description RESPONSIBILITIES People management 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Provide a comprehensive HR service covering employee relations, workforce planning, policy modernisation and culture development. Coach and support managers to implement and apply organisation policies and procedures including supervision and appraisals, absence management, applications for dependants/compassionate leave, etc. Provide expert advice and support on employee relations cases including grievance, disciplinary and performance management. Escalate high risk or complex employee relation cases to the CEO and/or external advisers as appropriate. Provide HR support at investigation meetings and hearings, including the preparation of cases, attendance at meetings and the production of notes/minutes. Support managers in producing formal documentation such as investigation reports and disciplinary letters. Support recruitment processes including the production of job packs, placement of adverts in appropriate media, organising shortlisting and interviews, and monitoring recruitment outcomes. Support the Trustees and Chief Executive in dealing with trade union matters, including preparing papers and taking minutes for Joint Negotiating Committee meetings. Manage the log of HR policies and procedures, overseeing their updating and dissemination. Work with the CEO and other parties to draft, update and communicate HR policies and procedures. Work with the Learning & Development Manager in the identification of learning and development needs in the organisation, and the implementation of appropriate training and development solutions. Undertake an annual people survey and work with managers to identify and implement follow up actions. 10. Support the CEO in the recruitment and training of trustees, ensuring that governance and regulatory requirements are met. HR operations 11. Ensure HR systems, processes and documentation are accurate, up to date and compliant with employment law, GDPR and audit requirements. 12. Manage issuing employment contracts, undertaking right to work checks, DBS and other relevant checks. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 13. Liaise with the finance team to ensure payroll records are correct and that all employee changes are processed accurately and on time. 14. Monitor health and safety training records and organise training as required to ensure compliance with legal and other requirements (fire marshal training, First Aid, etc.) 15. Ensure staff are aware of the Employee Assistance Programme and other benefits, and keep them under review to ensure their appropriateness and cost effectiveness. 16. Produce management information for managers and the Trustee Board, including the monitoring of absence levels, turnover and diversity monitoring. 17. Work with the relevant teams and managers in achieving and maintaining relevant accreditation e.g. Disability Confident Employer. 18. Ensure compliance with information assurance and data protection policies and procedures within HR operations. General responsibilities 19. Line manage designated staff in accordance with organisation procedures. 20. Attend Trustee Board, Management Team and other meetings as required. 21. Adhere to all organisation policies including Health & Safety, Data Protection, Information Assurance, Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Equality & Diversity Policies and ensure they are implemented in your areas of responsibility. 22. 23. Foster good relations with stakeholders in furtherance of the organisation’s business objectives, including funders, consultants and Citizens Advice. Identify own training and development needs and agree with the Chief Executive on appropriate training and development activities to be undertaken. 24. Present a professional appearance, help maintain an orderly working environment and act at all times to uphold the good reputation of Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre. This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Person specification Essential criteria 1 Qualified to CIPD level 5 and evidence of continuous professional development and learning. 2 Proven experience in HR/People roles, including management of complex employee relations cases (grievance, disciplinary, performance management etc.). 3 Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of employment law and best HR practice. 4 Thorough understanding of the application of data protection and equality legislation to the management of human resources. 5 Experience of drafting HR policies and procedures. 6 Ability to apply legal and professional expertise appropriately, to give sound practical advice, guidance and support to managers on HR matters. 7 Ability to deal with demanding and multiple tasks at any one time and to prioritise workload to meet deadlines. 8 Excellent communication skills and sensitivity to the needs of different stakeholders. Strong organisational, communication and conflict resolution skills. 9 Excellent analytical and written skills with the ability to research and analyse information to produce concise and accurate reports. 10 Excellent planning and organisational skills with a high level of discretion and confidentiality. 11 Can demonstrate a commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity. 12 Excellent IT skills and familiarity with online HR packages. 13 Satisfactory outcome of a criminal records check. Desirable criteria 14 Experience of working in a similar role in the charity or not-for-profit sector. 15 Experience of working in a unionised environment. 16 Completion of Mental Health First Aid training and Safeguarding Awareness training. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Benefits of working for Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre offers a competitive remuneration package with additional benefits that support a positive work-life balance: ● Full-time hours are 35 per week with hybrid and flexible working policies ● Defined contribution pension scheme ● Employee assistance programme with access to 24/7 telephone support ● We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer ● Modern, high quality offices located in the city centre, with excellent transport links Our commitment to equality and diversity Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture for our employees, volunteers, service users and other stakeholders. We recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equality and fairness, and challenging discrimination. We value the benefits of having a diverse workforce and will take steps to recruit from the widest pool of qualified candidates practicable, ensuring that employment opportunities are open and accessible to all on the basis of their individual qualities and personal merit. Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre is a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer and we are committed to showing a positive and enabling attitude to employees and job applicants with disabilities or mental health issues and our employee policies and benefits support that commitment. The application process ● You will find details about our vacancies and how to apply on our website www.citizensadviceleeds.org.uk on the Working for us page. On this page you will find: ○ Job descriptions for current vacancies ○ Guidance on how to apply ○ Application form ○ Diversity monitoring form ● When you have filled in the application form please email it to us at jobs@citizensadviceleeds.org.uk ● You should also complete the anonymous diversity monitoring form on the Working for us page of our website ● If you are shortlisted for a role we will contact you to invite you to an interview. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Interviews are carried out by a panel of 2-3 people and are usually face-to-face. Interviews may be carried out online if necessary. ● We may also ask you to undertake an exercise as part of the assessment process. This could include providing answers to case studies for advice roles, making a presentation for a management role, or other appropriate activity. ● Following the interview process you will be contacted to inform you if we are making an employment offer or not. This verbal offer will be followed by a written confirmation subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and completion of ID and other checks as required for the role. ● Verbal feedback will be offered to candidates who are unsuccessful at the interview but we do not provide written feedback. Application form Complete the application form and return it by post or email no later than the closing date referred to in the advert. If you return your application via email there is no requirement to send a hard copy in the post. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute for the application form, unless specifically stated in the advert. The application form plays a key part in our recruitment and selection process. We use the information you provide about your skills, experience, career and education history to decide whether or not to invite you for an interview. It is important that you complete the application form as fully and accurately as possible, ensuring that you give specific examples which demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the role for which you are applying. Choose examples of past experience that clearly demonstrate what we are looking for, and be precise about what you did, how you did it and the outcome or result of your actions. Provide recent work examples wherever possible but examples from other aspects of your life such as voluntary work, school or college experiences, can also be given. Disability Confident Employer As an organisation that values equality, fairness and diversity, Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre encourages applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We are a Disability Confident Employer and Mindful Employer. We commit to invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum (essential) criteria for the role. To opt into this scheme, please tick the relevant box on the application form. The essential criteria for the role are shown in the person specification. Please let us know if you have any access or adjustment needs as part of the recruitment process. If you are invited to an interview we will ask you about any access needs or adjustments to the interview/assessment process that you may need. Please be assured we will be supportive in discussing reasonable adjustments with you at any stage of the recruitment process, although we cannot guarantee to be able to meet all requests. Reviewed: 30.10.2025 Shortlisting outcomes Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview. Some positions may require additional assessments (practical task/test or assessment centre) and information on this will be provided if you are invited to interview. Entitlement to work in the UK A job offer will be subject to confirmation that you are permitted to work in the UK in accordance with the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. If you are invited to an interview you will be asked to provide evidence of your entitlement to work in the UK at that time. Diversity Monitoring Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre encourages and welcomes applications from suitably skilled candidates from all backgrounds. Monitoring recruitment and selection procedures is one way of helping us to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination in the way that we recruit people. To do this we need to know about the diversity profile of people who apply for posts at Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre. This information is given in confidence for monitoring purposes only and is not seen by anyone responsible for making recruitment decisions. However, if you would prefer not to answer any of the questions we ask, please leave them blank. References All job offers are subject to the receipt of two satisfactory references. One should be from your current or most recent employer (or your course tutor if you have just left education). The other should be someone who knows you in a work related, voluntary or academic capacity. Both referees should be able to comment on your suitability for the role. References will only be taken up for successful candidates following interview. Criminal convictions Anyone who applies to work within Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre will be asked to disclose details of unspent convictions during the recruitment process. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working for Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre but we are not able to employ anyone with a conviction for a sexual offence against a child or vulnerable adult regardless of when the offence took place. All other convictions will be considered on an individual basis. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures are only requested where proportionate and relevant to the post concerned. If the post for which you are applying requires a DBS disclosure, this will be noted in the application pack. Reviewed: 30.10.2025