HR Business Partner Talent

Westmill Foods; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist food manufacturer located in Manchester is looking for a Recruitment Excellence Manager. This role involves attracting and developing talent while overseeing every aspect of recruitment, from strategies to onboarding. Candidates should have extensive recruitment expertise and experience in learning and development. The position offers a competitive salary and numerous benefits, including a car allowance and employee assistance programs. The ideal candidate will be proactive, solutions-focused, and capable of influencing stakeholders.

Benefits

A competitive salary and car allowance

Annual Incentive Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Retail and leisure discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive expertise in recruitment and internal hiring.
• Strong technical knowledge of recruitment systems.
• Proven track record in developing learning and development strategies.

Responsibilities

• Attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent across the organization.
• Shape recruitment strategies and craft career pathways.
• Maximise the Apprenticeship Levy and design training solutions.

Job description

Department: People
Location:Manchester (Trafford Park)
Closing date: 25th January 2026

Our Business

We are proud of our heritage and position as one of Europe’s largest specialist food companies, manufacturing and supplying authentic global foods which serve the chefs and owners of restaurants and takeaways, as well as a diverse range of consumers. With a strong portfolio of leading brands including Lucky Boat, Elephant Atta, Rajah, Green Dragon and Patak’s, our product range is as diverse as the people who chose to work here, and includes noodles, flour, rice, spices, sauces, and oils. We pride ourselves on our passion for food and people, where collaboration, diversity, and inclusion are integral in everything that we do. This is underpinned with our employee resource groups where members and allies help create an inclusive environment and special events are celebrated. Westmill is a place where no one feels like the new person for long and everyone has the chance to make a real difference to the business by being their authentic selves.

The Opportunity

You’ll play a pivotal role in attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent across every level of our organisation—from operational teams to the Board. This means shaping recruitment strategies, crafting career pathways, and creating development programmes that establish Westmill as a centre of excellence within the ABF Grocery Group.

This is a highly autonomous position with the scope to influence senior leaders and deliver initiatives that make a measurable impact. You’ll work closely with the Board, Heads of Function, and peers across ABF businesses to share best practices and drive continuous improvement. Alongside this, you’ll partner with HR and Marketing teams to strengthen Westmill’s employer brand and value proposition through targeted social media campaigns and compelling communication channels.

You’ll take full ownership of recruitment excellence, overseeing everything from end-to-end processes and onboarding standards to managing external partnerships and optimising recruitment systems. Beyond hiring, you’ll maximise the Apprenticeship Levy, expand e-learning and AI-driven training solutions, and design leadership programmes for our Board and management teams. Every initiative you deliver will be focused on achieving real ROI and driving business performance.

Who are we looking for?

You’ll bring extensive expertise in recruitment, including internal hiring and strong technical knowledge of recruitment systems. Your experience will span HR generalist responsibilities, giving you the confidence to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.

With a proven track record in developing learning and development strategies, implementing apprenticeship programmes, and delivering impactful initiatives that drive performance, you’ll know how to design and deliver training solutions from concept to implementation, ensuring measurable ROI.

To excel in this role, you’ll be highly self-motivated, proactive, and solutions-focused, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. You’ll have the credibility to influence and engage people at every level of the business, combining resilience and persistence with strong listening and problem-solving abilities. Your mindset is rooted in continuous improvement, and you make decisions with a clear focus on people and business outcomes.

A full driving licence and flexibility to travel across multiple sites is essential.

If you’re results-driven and passionate about shaping the future of talent, we’d love to hear from you.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary and car allowance
• An annual Incentive Plan

Additionally, you will have access to a range of benefits aimed at enhancing your wellbeing both at home and at work; from a free and confidential 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to access to affordable loans and financial education, electric vehicle and cycle to work salary sacrifice schemes, an option to buy additional holidays and a day dedicated to volunteering in your local community. You will also have access to our benefits platform Extra Spice from day one, offering a huge variety of retail and leisure discounts.

Would you like to hear more?

We would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with anyone who feels they would be a great fit for our business. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, and we are more than happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that you may require at any stage in the recruitment process.