People Operations Manager

at  Absolute Taste

THE PERSON

At Absolute Taste, ‘People Operations’ encompasses all the typical people related functions and more; Employee Relations, Recruitment, Training & Development, Data Analytics and Rostering. In our dynamic department, we do not only focus on the traditional office administrative activities, but also work alongside the Operations teams during the events; standing shoulder to shoulder with the team and immersing ourselves in the operation. Therefore our team must have willingness to work flexibly, including outside of typical office hours, and be comfortable working onsite at major events across the UK and abroad – this is not a Monday – Friday operation.

This collaborative approach ensures a seamless integration of people policy and process across all facets of our business, allowing us to deliver exceptional service and experiences to our workforce. We are seeking an individual with experience in People Operations, but also a particular passion for hospitality, events and sports entertainment. Our ideal candidate is also someone who is…

• Highly organised, with the ability to balance their priorities across multiple projects and events.
• An outstanding communicator, used to working within a diverse workforce and able to manage complex and sensitive situations with thought, confidence, and sincerity.
• Personable and engaging, with the ability to speak coherently and articulate their thoughts and opinions to instill confidence and reassurance with every interaction.
• Highly analytical, adept at interpreting large volumes of intricate workforce data and translating them into actionable insights that inform effective management decisions.
• Solution orientated, who can think creatively, and problem solve with confidence.
• Committed to personal development.
• Proactive in their approach to event planning, taking initiative and control with the skill to anticipate future situations and take steps to prepare for them.
• Keen to roll up their sleeves and get stuck to support the success of any event.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent qualification is desired but not essential.
• Experience working within HR or People Operations, preferably with an understanding of the hospitality industry and able to work within a similar fast paced environment.
• Understanding of Project Management methodologies with demonstrable planning skills and experience working to tight deadlines.
• Comprehensive knowledge of recruitment activities and best practices, as well as employment law compliance throughout the recruitment and onboarding process.
• Computer literate with particular proficiency with Microsoft Office:

• Staffing & Scheduling: Work closely with project leads to create staff rosters based on event needs, client requirements, and employee availability. Optimise staff scheduling to ensure efficient operations and high-quality service delivery. Support Operations Teams in building, publishing and offering rosters to the causal workforce through our workforce management system (Human Force).
• Accreditation: Collaborate with the safety and security team for each event, to manage the accreditation process efficiently. This includes verifying documents, uploading information to the relevant system and addressing discrepancies promptly.
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensuring that all workers adhere to safety regulations, venue policies and event protocols throughout.
• Event Operations: Plan and lead all onsite event People Operations activities, such as accreditation, staff check in, employee welfare, uniform distribution and general operational support.
• Travel & Accommodation: Ensure accommodation and travel plans are in place for each event and are inline with budget. Liaise with the chosen providers and company accounts team to ensure that invoices are paid
• Recruitment: Develop and implement end-to-end high volume recruitment strategies to source top talent across diverse hospitality and event roles (managers, chefs, waiters, bartenders, kitchen porters, logistics etc.). Ensure job descriptions are kept up to date and consistent, create new job descriptions and adverts as and when necessary. Managing candidates through the application and onboarding journey through our ATS (Harri).
• Screening & Selection: Conduct in-depth interviews and assessments to identify qualified candidates with the skills, experience, and personality to excel in our fast-paced environment.
• Onboarding & Training: Oversee the onboarding process for new hires, ensuring a smooth transition from application through to first shift. Collaborate with departments to develop effective training programs that equip staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed. Design, launch and embed employee development and appraisal programmes across each department. Managing our e-learning platform (MAPAL 1 / Flow Hospitality).
• Payroll & Compliance: Oversee payroll processing for casual staff post event. Ensure invoices for all freelancers are received, verified and processed in line with company policies and procedures.
• Data & Analytics: Provide live reporting of staffing levels on event against forecast, regularly updating project leads on actual labour spend against budget. Post event, analyse timesheet data against sales and other metrics to identify areas for improvement, and measure the success of people operations strategies. Produce ‘Ad Hoc’ MI Reports when requested.