HR Manager (Part-time)

At Bookmark Reading Charity, we exist to change children's life stories through the joy of reading.

The HR Manager is a standalone role that will lead the operational delivery of HR initiatives and manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle across our organisation, ensuring we remain an inclusive and supportive employer.

The HR Manager will also manage HR systems compliance, while supporting strategic projects that embed best practice and innovation across the organisation.

This role requires business acumen, strategic thinking, change management and talent management skills. A successful HR Manager also needs to be a great communicator, collaborator, and adept at building relationships.

Job Description

HR operations:

• Take overall responsibility for the delivery of day-to-day HR services across the organisation.
• Ensure HR processes are efficient, consistent and compliant.

Employee relations:

• Act as the escalation point for employee matters, including performance, absence, grievance and disciplinary cases.
• Support and coach managers on people issues, ensuring fair and consistent practice.

Recruitment & onboarding:

• Lead end-to-end recruitment for vacancies across the business.
• Partner with hiring managers to define roles, adverts and interview processes.
• Oversee onboarding to ensure a positive new starter experience.

Payroll & benefits:

• Work closely with Finance, who manage the payroll process, to provide submissions and changes.
• Support the review and administration of benefits.

Policies, systems & compliance:

• Maintain and update HR policies in line with employment legislation.
• Oversee HR data quality and reporting with support from the Office Manager for administrative tasks.
• Work closely with external HR support and legal counsel when required.
• Develop and co-ordinate supervision and appraisal processes.

Culture, engagement & development:

• Support initiatives that build engagement, wellbeing and retention.
• Coordinate learning and development priorities with managers.
• Contribute to workforce planning and organisational change projects.
• Maintain a culture centred around our values, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer to deliver this.
• Oversee, implement and articulate the results of our cyclical pulse survey process, in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Ensure, alongside the wider Leadership Team, that we have a workplace where everyone is equipped and motivated to play their part in hitting KPIs to deliver our vision.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

• Work closely with the Chief Finance and Operations Officer as SLT lead for EDI and coordinate the organisation's approach to EDI.
• Ensure HR policies and practices support this programme of work.
• Work with leaders and managers to promote inclusive behaviours and challenge bias.
• Monitor EDI data and trends and report insights.

Person Specification:

• Passion for our vision and aligned with our values.
• Confident advising, influencing and constructively. challenging the status quo on people matters to ensure the charity's success.
• Substantial experience in a similar role, ideally from a commercial background.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience.
• Providing robust support to help the charity have a team that is committed to delivering its aims and goals.
• Broad knowledge of current employment law and how this practically affects the organisational operations and employee relations.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Experience with organisational design and change.
• Someone who can operate in a fast-moving environment.
• Someone who is confident Learning Management Systems and HR systems. This role will be the lead the day-to-day functions for these key systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft programmes (Excel, Word and PowerPoint).

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Contract type: Permanent, Part-time, 0.6-0.7 FTE open to flexible working patterns across the week.

Salary: £21,600 - £28,000 (£36,000 to £40,000 (Pro-rata .

Reporting to: Chief Finance and Operations Officer.

Location: Bookmark Reading Charity, Charles House, 5-11 Regent Street, St James's, London SW1Y 4LR . Minimum one day per week based at the Bookmark office .

Application deadline: 4th February 2026.

Shortlisting: 5th- 9th February 2026, shortlisted candidates contracted 10th February.

1st round interviews: Monday 16th or Tuesday 17th February 2026 in person in London.

2nd round interviews: Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February 2026 online.