People Manager

Location: Orwell Logistics Park – Ipswich with hybrid working: 2 days per week from home.

Join the exciting journey of one of the UK's largest nuclear projects at Sizewell C!

The Civil Works Alliance (CWA), appointed by the Sizewell C client, unites three industry-leading contractors — Laing O'Rourke, Bouygues, and Balfour Beatty — to deliver the full civils scope, including Enabling Earthworks, Main Civil Works, and Marine and Tunnelling.

As People Manager within the Civil Works Alliance (CWA) at Sizewell C, you'll support the delivery of a People Plan that drives project growth and meets key contractual milestones.

Working in a fast-paced, multi-partner environment, you'll lead core HR activities and people programmes that enhance engagement, workforce planning, and talent development. Your role will help build capability, foster collaboration, and ensure the People agenda evolves with the needs of this nationally significant infrastructure project.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent the HR team in coordinating cyclical activities (L&D, pay review, talent, graduates/apprentices), ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
• Coordinate and support delivery of HR projects aligned with contractual milestones and strategic goals.
• Collaborate across functions and partner organisations to support ad hoc HR initiatives and cross-functional projects.
• Contribute to professional development programmes and provide HR input to change initiatives such as Skills Bootcamps, mobilisation, and ED&I.
• Manage and escalate complex HR queries, ensuring timely and appropriate resolution.
• Coach and support leaders to embed key HR practices, including talent management, performance culture, and employee engagement.
• Partner with senior managers to develop people solutions aligned to business and commercial needs.
• Deliver training and coaching to build manager capability and support delivery of People Plans.
• Promote performance and development best practices across teams.
• Support recruitment coordination and coach hiring managers to make effective selection decisions.
• Embed and uphold the project's Zero Harm safety culture in all people-related activities.

What skills & experience are we looking for?

Knowledge & Skills (Essential):

• Emotionally intelligent with ability to adapt style and build credibility with senior leaders
• Energetic, creative, and pragmatic problem solver
• Strong knowledge of HR policies, practices, and procedures with generalist HR experience
• Ability to manage competing priorities and a diverse, high workload
• Proven relationship management skills
• Proficient in IT and MS Office

Qualifications & Experience:

• CIPD qualified (essential)
• Experience advising leaders through change and managing change programmes with matrix HR support (essential)
• Project management experience using formal methodologies (desirable)
• Recognised as a trusted business advisor with commercial awareness and long-term relationship-building skills (desirable)

Why SZC?

This is your chance to contribute to one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure projects, shaping the future of energy while working in a supportive, dynamic environment. Be part of a team that values innovation, safety, and sustainability at every stage of the journey—from investment to construction and beyond.

About Laing O'Rourke

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com

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