Mandarin Speaking HR Manager

We are seeking an experienced and pragmatic HR Manager to join our newly established operation. You will lead all people-related activities across our local business, channel partner and head office functions. This role requires a hands-on professional who can balance strategic workforce planning with the day-to realities of a fast-paced environment, ensuring compliance with UK employment law and industry-specific regulations.

Strategic HR Leadership

• Lead workforce planning & budgeting to meet operational demands.
  

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Lead employee relations activities, including grievance, disciplinary and absence management.
  
• Maintain compliance with employment law, labour regulations, and HR policy.
  

Talent Acquisition & Management

• Oversee all recruitment activities and on-boarding of new staff
  
• Drive succession planning, capability development, and internal mobility.
  

Learning, Development, & Performance

• Lead the performance management cycle and coach managers on effective performance practices.
  
• Identify training needs across the organisation and implement KPI tracking and development plans with team leads
  

Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing

• Champion positive engagement initiatives and foster a high‑performance, inclusive culture.
  
• Drive communication initiatives across the organisation
  

HR Operations & Analytics

• Manage payroll inputs, time and attendance systems, and HR administration.
  
• Use HR data to identify workforce trends and inform decision making.
  
• Continuously improve HR processes to enhance service delivery.
  

Education/Training

• Minimum CIPD Level 5 is necessary.
  
• Degree in HR, Business Management, or related discipline (preferred).
  

Requirements

Essential

• HR generalist experience within automotive manufacturing, industrial operations, or similar sector.
  
• CIPD qualification and Degree in HR, Business Management, or related discipline (preferred).
  
• Strong background in employee relations and building out HR policies and guidelines
  
• Knowledge of employment law and HR advisory best practice.
  
• Strong coaching skills and the ability to build trust with operational leaders.
  
• Data‑driven mindset with proven analytical capability, with keen eye on performance development
  

Communication and Coordination Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Mandarin and English (mandatory)
  
• Strong organizational and stakeholder coordination abilities
  
• Good team collaboration spirit
  
• Strong resilience
  

Work Environment

• Delivering complex cross-functional projects in fast-paced environments
  
• Flexibility to working hours in order to coordinate with China HQ (earlier mornings in the UK)
  
• Represents engineering teams locally in UK when communicating with internal and external organizations