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Hillier Nurseries is a long‑established, family‑owned business with a proud heritage and a commitment to excellence across our tree and plant nurseries and our network of 22 garden centres. We are seeking an experienced and people‑centred Head of HR to join us on a full-time basis, to lead our central HR and Learning & Development function and ensure the delivery of a high‑quality, efficient, and supportive service across the organisation. The Head of HR will provide strategic and operational leadership to the HR and Learning & Development team, ensuring managers are supported with clear, practical guidance and that HR processes remain compliant, effective, and aligned with business needs. Working closely with managers across all sites, the postholder will play a key role in shaping a positive, inclusive culture and enabling confident, consistent people management.
Job Responsibility:
Lead, support, and develop the central HR and L&D team to deliver a responsive, high‑quality service
Oversee day‑to‑day HR operations, including employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, performance processes, and HR administration
Build strong relationships and act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and managers across nurseries, garden centres, and support functions
Provide clear, practical HR advice to ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant decision‑making
Support organisational change, restructures, and role design, ensuring processes are well‑planned, compliant, and sensitively managed
Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date HR policies, procedures, and documentation
Manage the HR & L&D budget, including forecasting and cost control
Work with the L&D Manager to support mandatory training and wider development activity
Ensure accurate HR records and effective use of HR systems and reporting tools
Produce HR reports, analyse data, and present insights and recommendations
Support people‑related projects and continuous improvement initiatives
Assist managers with recruitment, job design, advertising, selection, and onboarding
Promote a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working culture
Ensure HR practices comply with employment law, GDPR, and internal governance
Lead or support employee engagement activity, including surveys and action planning
Work closely with payroll to ensure accurate and timely processing of information
Travel to Hillier sites as required
Undertake any other reasonable duties to meet business needs
Requirements:
CIPD Level 5 or Level 7, or equivalent experience
Strong generalist HR background supporting managers across a range of issues
Experience leading an HR and/or L&D team
Commercial awareness with the ability to balance people and operational priorities
Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
Confident handling employee relations matters and providing pragmatic advice
Experience managing recruitment, onboarding, and performance processes
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
Comfortable working in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment
Nice to have:
Experience in a multi‑site or retail‑based organisation
Familiarity with HR systems and reporting tools
Experience supporting Learning & Development activity
Experience supporting TUPE transfers
What we offer:
Competitive salary, plus car allowance
31 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)
Employee discount
Group Personal Pension Scheme
Life Assurance Cover
Private Healthcare
Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with retail discounts
Free parking
Complimentary access to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens