Location : Erith, Kent Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Job Type: Permanent, On-site, Full-Time (4 days): Monday - Thursday 0630 - 1620 Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 (depending on experience) £7,500 car allowance benefits About the Company FN UK is a leading UK-based defence manufacturing business specialising in advanced engineering solutions for national security and defence partners. FN UK is a subsidiary of the FN Browning group which has a 135-year heritageof innovation and excellence.We design, develop, manufactureand deliver weapons systems andour commitment to quality, compliance, and ethical practices underpins our reputation as a trusted partner to governments and defence organisations. Role Overview As HR Manager, you will lead the strategic development and execution of human resources initiatives to support our operations. This role requires a dynamic leader who can balance the unique demands of the defence sector, including security, compliance, and a highly skilled workforce, with modern HR best practices. You will drive organisational effectiveness, talent management, and employee engagement while fostering a culture of integrity, innovation, and resilience.?? Key Responsibi lities? Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement HR strategies aligned with business objectives, ensuring compliance with UK employment law, defence regulations (e.g., ITAR, SC clearance protocols), and ethical standards.?? Advise the senior team on workforce planning, organisational design, and change management in a fast-evolving business.?? Travel to Belgium on a quarterly basis, and any other international destination as required, ensuring alignment with Group HR initiatives. Talent Acquisition & Retention:?? Oversee recruitment for specialised roles, including engineers, project managers, and security-vetted personnel, ensuring alignment with stringent security and capability requirements.?? Design retention strategies for critical talent, including career development pathways and competitive compensation frameworks.?? Employee Relations & Engagement: Foster a high-performance culture that prioritises safety, collaboration, and accountability in a complex operational environment.?? Manage and coach senior team through employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with legal standards whilstmaintaining morale. Plan and deliver engagement incentives and activities to foster a morale-focused culture. Compliance & Ethics: Ensure adherence of industry regulations, including security requirements andconfidentiality agreements, working with the local police constabulary to meet the Section 5 RFD requirements. Lead investigations into sensitive HR matters, maintaining confidentiality and trust.?? Awareness of emerging trends and legislation changes including the 2025 employment rights bill. Learning & Development: Partner with senior team to build capability programs that address skills gaps in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. Develop leadership pipelines through a clear succession plan to ensure no single points of failure put the business at risk. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): Promote a diverse and inclusive workforce, and support initiatives to recruit fairly, with the armed forces covenant pledge in mind. HR Operations:? Optimise / digitise HR systems and processes to enhance efficiency while safeguarding sensitive employee data.?? Manage training, engagement and recruitment budgets, HR analytics, and reporting for executive and board review.?? Person Specification Ideal Qualifications & Experience: CIPD Level 5 or equivalent. 5 years of progressive HR leadership experience, ideally in defence, aerospace, manufacturing. Proven expertise in UK employment law, security clearance processes, and defence sector compliance.?? Experience with site relocations. Understanding of ISO 9001 / other organisation standards. Skills & Attributes: Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business needs into HR initiatives.?? Resilient leader adept at navigating ambiguity and crisis situations.?? Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience liaising with government bodies and senior executives.?? High ethical standards and discretion in handling confidential information.?? Benefits Private healthcare (for immediate family living in residence) Annual performance bonus Enhanced pension scheme Life assurance of 4X salary Private office with high spec IT set-up International travel as required Company card for business expenses Company car-lease option Annual performance-related bonus 5 weeks holiday BH’s with Xmas shutdown EAP support for immediate family living in residence Opportunities for professional development in a niche sector??