People Manager (maternity leave cover)

40 million people wear spectacles in the UK alone, but the optical industry hasn’t changed enough in three centuries. Products are tired, standards are mediocre, and the experience is dull.  We’re going to change that, and build the world’s most customer-centric spectacles company.

The Role

The People Manager first and foremost plays a crucial role in attracting, developing, and retaining top talent at Cubitts. Focused on building high-performing, engaged, and well-supported teams, this role partners with managers across the business to nurture talent at every stage of the employee lifecycle. As a key people generalist, you will ensure the seamless and effective operation of the People function while collaborating closely with the Senior People Manager and Head of People to drive the People strategy and achieve departmental goals.

Your key responsibilities

• Acquisition - Manage the end to end recruitment process, partnering with hiring managers to develop effective strategies that ensure timely hiring of high-quality candidates. Drive innovative attraction efforts using ATS, social media, and referrals while supporting the People Team in enhancing the Employer Value Proposition (EVP) and employer branding. Continuously monitor and refine recruitment processes to improve efficiency and candidate quality.
• Candidate Experience and Onboarding -  Ensure a seamless and engaging candidate experience, from application to onboarding. Working across all areas of the business to ensure hiring managers provide the best possible welcome to their new joiners.
• Succession Planning - Implement succession planning initiatives by maintaining talent pipelines and tracking high-potential employees. Support the Senior People manager in the implementation of development programs to ensure employees have clear growth pathways and opportunities for career progression within Cubitts.
• Employee Relations - Provide logical and sound advice to Cubitts People Leaders. Support the People Team to deliver training to equip Cubitts managers to be confident people managers, resulting in an exemplary employee relation record.
• Employment Law - Stay informed of key changes in employment legislation, ensuring guidelines and procedures remain compliant and up to date.
• Engagement - Facilitate the creation and implementation of Cubitts Employee Survey. Understand the key drivers and results and help managers to drive positive change within their teams. Support on action planning and review of progress throughout the year.
• Pay & Reward - Support with the data input and processing of pay and benefits. 
• Offboarding - Develop clear processes to promote seamless off boarding ensuring employees remain wonderful ambassadors of Cubitts once they leave us. Analyse exit interview data to understand any key trends and themes. 
• HRIS - Maintain clean data, reporting and clear data entry across all people systems
• KPIs - Work with the People team to develop a suite of meaningful KPIs which maintain and drive strong people metrics.
• Goals - Support the delivery of company & department goals through the successful delivery of annual personal goals

Requirements

What we’re looking for

• Experience in a generalist HR role, covering all areas of the employee life cycle with proven success in recruitment
• Naturally empathetic with a strong sense of doing the right thing to support employees of all levels across the business.
• A strong can do attitude, willing to roll up their sleeves and get excited that no 2 days are ever the same.
• Keen to develop and grow their people skills.
• Organised, great written and spoken communication
• Thrive in working in a small dynamic team
• Naturally curious with strong understanding of the business and each job role
• Good project and change management skills
• A thoughtful leader who gets things done

Our Values 

Pioneers 

We try to improve things, by doing things better or more simply celebrating both innovation and failure. 

• Challenges both themselves and their team to think outside the box
• Innovate, and improve
• Leads by example, using their initiative to keep things moving forward
• Courageous and supportive, urging their team members to take risks and learn from their mistakes
• An infectious, positive force, no matter what challenges they face
• Pushes themselves and their team to learn and grow both personally and professionally

Proud 

We take pride in doing things properly,  even when we’re exhausted. 

• Leads by example by being deeply committed to performing to a high standard
• Encourages and supports their team to strive for consistency, quality and attention to detail
• Always goes the extra mile, both in their own work and for their team to ensure things are done properly
• Inspires and supports their team to find the best possible outcomes and to exceed expectations

For all

We treat everyone with the same warmth  and respect, and without ego. 

• Humble and empathetic, fostering unity and inclusiveness amongst and across teams
• Shares challenges and encourages their team to overcome them together
• Communicates openly and honestly,listening to and respecting everyone's point of view
• Identifies, develops, and celebrates individuals and team strengths and achievements

Benefits

Some nice things you’ll get

• Complimentary spectacles, eye examinations and generous discounts
• Option to buy and sell holiday
• Paid time away for the important moments in life
• Annual season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life assurance
• Aviva Digicare+

At Cubitts we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community where employees, customers, and partners all feel respected, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We celebrate diversity in all its forms and recognise that different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our community. Inclusion is at the heart of our operations, we work actively to remove barriers, ensure equitable opportunities, and create a space where everyone belongs.

Contract

• Type: Fixed term, 6 months
• Salary: £42,147.33
• Job grade: Manager Level 3
• Working location: Cubitts HQ, The Yard - Kings Cross, London.