People Operations Manager

JD Sports Fashion plc; Bury; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports retailer in the UK is seeking a People Operations Manager to lead the HR team in ensuring effective HR processes and a positive employee experience. You will oversee the entire employee lifecycle, ensure compliance with policies, and drive operational excellence. The ideal candidate has proven HR management experience, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills. This role offers a chance to contribute to a dynamic team in a well-established company known for its commitment to growth and employee development.

Benefits

Staff discount on JD Group products

Personal development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR/People Operations management.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• In-depth knowledge of HR processes and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the People Operations team for efficient delivery of HR processes.
• Oversee the Employee Lifecycle including onboarding and offboarding.
• Ensure Policy Compliance and Governance to mitigate risk.

Skills

Leadership skills

HR processes knowledge

Communication

Stakeholder management

Organizational skills

Time management

HR data management

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent

Tools

HR systems

Excel

Job description

Established in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, the JD Group is a leading omni-channel retailer of Sports Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with our colleagues working in stores across several retail fascias in many markets around the world. JD Sports Fashion Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and has been a FTSE100 publicly quoted company since 2019 and continues to grow in the UK and internationally. We want to be the leading global omnichannel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. To be a part of this successful company and help us to achieve this you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people-led, innovative and customer-focused organisation which provides operational excellence whilst identifying new areas of growth as part of our day to day objectives.

People Operations Manager

Responsible to: Head of People Services Department

Location: JD Sports Fashion PLC, Hollins Brook Way, Bury, BL9 8RR

Hours: 40 Hours Per Week, 5 days

The Role

The People Operations Manager will lead and manage the People Operations team, ensuring efficient delivery of HR processes and an exceptional employee experience. This role is key to driving operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement across all People Operations activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop the People Operations Team: Provide clear direction, coaching, and support to team members, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to deliver a high-quality service. Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Oversee the Employee Lifecycle: Take ownership of all operational processes across the employee journey, including onboarding, offboarding, contractual changes, and job transitions. Ensure these processes are delivered accurately, efficiently, and in line with company policies and legal requirements.
• Ensure Policy Compliance and Governance: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and internal policies. Proactively review and update procedures to ensure compliance and mitigate risk, while promoting best practices across the organisation.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Regularly assess and refine People Operations workflows to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency. Identify opportunities for automation and process enhancements that deliver measurable improvements to service delivery.
• Manage HR Data and Reporting: Ensure the integrity and accuracy of HR data across systems. Produce timely and insightful reports to support business decision‑making, compliance obligations, and payroll processes.
• Build Strong Stakeholder Relationships: Act as a trusted advisor to managers and senior leaders, providing guidance on People Operations matters and ensuring a consistent, customer‑focused approach to service delivery.
• Handle Complex Queries and Escalations: Serve as the escalation point for challenging or sensitive issues, resolving them promptly and professionally while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
• Champion Continuous Improvement: Monitor operational metrics through KPIs and SLAs and provide feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement. Lead initiatives that enhance employee experience and streamline processes.
• Support HR Technology and Self‑Service: Promote the use of HR systems and self‑service tools, embedding a culture focused on simplicity and customer experience. Ensure employees and managers are equipped to access and utilise these resources effectively. Collaborate on system upgrades and enhancements to improve functionality.
• Contribute to Projects and Change Initiatives: Play an active role in organisational projects, including policy reviews, system implementations, and change management activities, ensuring People Operations considerations are fully represented.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in HR/People Operations management.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• In-depth knowledge of HR processes and compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage complex issues and make sound decisions.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in HR systems and data management.

Desirable Skills

• Experience in process improvement and change management.
• Knowledge of payroll processes and integration points.
• Familiarity with HR technology implementation projects.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.

Benefits

We know our colleagues work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits including staff Discount On JD Group and other brands within the organisation and personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work.