Human Resources Manager – Maternity Cover
Contract: Fixed term basis for 12 months, to cover maternity leave.
Hours: Full-Time 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)
About Refugee Action
Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.
To succeed in the role, you will need to demonstrate:
• Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices
• Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it
• Demonstrable experience of providing HR advice and guidance to senior leadership and staff that balances UK employment legislation, organisational policies, procedures and risk with organisational values, where you consider the impact on people and organisational culture
• Experience of working collaboratively with senior leadership, managers and staff, across a breadth of operational and strategic HR issues, promoting trust and positive employee relations
• Significant experience in employee relations case management and change processes
• Skilled in developing and implementing HR practices, policies and systems
• Experience of coaching and successfully influencing managers to consider the impact of their decisions on people and organisational culture
• Proactive, flexible and manages own workload to meet deadlines
• Commitment to confidentiality and handling personal data sensitively
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including active listening
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Delivering successful outcomes within a working culture that is underpinned by organisational values, empathy and compassion
Required Qualifications
CIPD qualified or equivalent HR qualification
If you have any queries regarding the process and application, please send an email to recruitment@refugee-action.org.uk
Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply
Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday, 23 August 2026
Interviews: Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly encouraged. We may contact suitable candidates before the closing date, as we are looking for the role to start as soon as possible.
Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.
This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List. If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.
You can find out which roles are on the shortage occupation list via these two links:
• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations
• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education
We are currently campaigning for people seeking asylum to have the right to work in the UK, see our Lift the Ban campaign here.