Job Description
We’re looking for a positive, high‑energy and solutions‑focused People Partner with strong, all‑round HR operating experience who is now ready to step into a partnering and departmental leadership role.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with broad HR and/or OD expertise who thrives in fast‑moving, operational environments – perhaps with seasonal peaks, a large casual workforce or complex frontline teams – and who now wants to move into a role with strategic influence.
You’ll work closely with our senior managers and play a key leadership role within the People department, deputising for the Group Head of People when required, owning the delivery of people projects that genuinely make a difference.
The opportunity
You’ll be joining a small but high‑impact People team as the People partner to senior and departmental managers across a busy, operationally diverse organisation. You’ll be working with senior managers to develop their teams and offer people insights to develop the experience for all our colleagues – and rolling up your sleeves to make it happen.
You’ll be:
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A trusted adviser and partner to senior managers, influencing how they lead, engage and develop their teams, balancing a pragmatic and commercial but people-orientated mindset
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Coaching and mentoring your team through employee relations cases, offering expert support for more complex cases
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Designing and implementing training solutions to address organisational challenges you spot, and working with our Training Manager on creating plans and initiatives
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Owning and driving the execution of people plans, spanning engagement, wellbeing, performance, employee relations and development
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Playing a visible leadership role within the People team, including deputising for the Group Head of People and leading the HR function within the People department - helping to shape priorities and approaches across the department
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Improving and evolving People and L&D practices so they support delivery and a great employee experience
This is a hands‑on role in a “small but complex” organisation with a strong operational heartbeat. It will suit someone who enjoys autonomy, variety and solving problems collaboratively.
About you
This role is ideal if you’re at the point in your career where you’re ready to step up into partnering and leadership.
You’re likely to bring:
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Strong, all‑round HR operational experience across the employee lifecycle, particularly in employee relations
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Experience in either training or L&D including designing training interventions to address operational or organisational needs
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Employee Relations experience, ideally in environments with operational pressure, volume or seasonal demand
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Confidence working with senior managers – coaching, challenging and influencing rather than simply advising
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The credibility to act as a deputy for the Group Head of People when needed
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A positive, collaborative and solutions‑focused mindset
You’re someone who gets things done. You’re comfortable operating without lots of structure, can navigate change and competing priorities, and enjoy being close to the business and its people.
You might currently be an experienced Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager who is already operating at – or aspiring to – true partnering level and wants greater ownership, visibility and progression.
What you'll earn (you won't find "competitive salary” written instead of a figure on our watch!)
Salary: Up to £46,000 depending on experience
What you'll receive in return (Benefits)
Why join us?
You’ll join a passionate People team that has transformed how we recruit, onboard and support our workforce, and plays a central role in shaping culture, leadership behaviours and the employee experience.
About Chester Race Company
Chester Race Company Ltd is one of the North West’s best-known and most-admired brands. It is an evolving organisation with a broad portfolio but retaining Horseracing at its core. The Company operates three racecourses, Chester, Bangor-on-Dee and Musselburgh, in Scotland. At Chester, we also own and operate - a hotel, a vibrant pub and have other property interests in the city. Not to mention our in-house caterers, Horseradish and our staffing brand – Thyme People. With that much diversity in our business, no two days are the same. You’ll work closely with operational teams, see the impact of your work first‑hand, and gain exposure that will set you up for a long‑term career in HR leadership.
Benefits
CRC offers a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:
31 days holiday (inclusive of England and Wales bank holiday allowance), which will increase by one day each year after two complete years of service up to a maximum of 36 days
Enhanced employer pension contribution (7%), and the option for employee contribution to be paid via salary sacrifice
Access to join our private medical scheme on an individual basis, which is currently provided by Aviva
Medicash cash plan, providing cashback for vaccinations, alternative treatments, eyecare and dental care
Free city centre parking
Free chef-prepared lunch daily (value of £1,000+ per year), with a daily menu choice
Free tickets to Group racedays
Enhanced maternity and sickness leave, subject to qualifying criteria
Local restaurant and gym discounts
Access to car scheme
Free wellbeing app (MProve) providing meditation, mindfulness and courses to maintain your wellbeing
CIPD Requirement
Email Contact for candidates
Closing Date
Chester Race Company is one of the North-West’s most admired hospitality brands with an evolving portfolio including three racecourses (all of which were awarded “Gold Standard” by the Racehorse Owners Association in 2022), as well as our own in-house catering division, staffing agency, an on-site hotel, and a vibrant Chester city centre pub.
We value and invest in our people as we know we could not achieve greatness without them.
We love to promote from within. If you have the drive to achieve, opportunities are endless.