HR Manager

Speech Graphics is the leading audio-driven facial animation provider in the video-game industry. Unlike other technologies, Speech Graphics employs detailed muscle maps for extremely accurate real-time lip-sync. 

The company trades under two brands - 'Speech Graphics' and 'Rapport'.

Rapport is an innovative platform that integrates AI with animated digital characters, enabling engaging and meaningful interactions in any language. The Rapport platform is being used to bring best-in-class digital experiences to multiple sectors, including corporate training, immersive learning, and virtual influencers. 

With a culture that thrives on collaboration, creativity and pushing technological boundaries, we are committed to providing a workplace where people can grow, innovate and make an impact. Our teams are diverse, passionate, and driven by a shared goal of building groundbreaking products that shape the future of digital animation. 

About The Role

As HR Manager, this part time (3 days per week) role is pivotal in shaping and delivering the people agenda across the whole company globally, ensuring a positive, safe, and high-performing workplace where colleagues can thrive. The position combines strategic input with hands-on delivery and leadership, aligning HR initiatives with wider business goals while supporting day-to-day people operations. 

The HR Manager oversees the full employee lifecycle – from recruitment, onboarding, learning and development, and regulatory compliance through to employee benefits and offboarding, ensuring a consistent and engaging experience at every stage. 

Working closely with the HR and Office Coordinator, the HR Manager contributes to key projects that deliver the People Strategy, while acting as a trusted advisor to leaders and a supportive partner to colleagues. Ultimately, the HR Manager creates an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and empowered to perform at their best.  

The Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and maintain existing HR policies, processes and activities ensuring smooth operations and compliance across multiple counties.
• Drive a culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, ensuring health and safety compliance and a secure, supportive workplace across the organisation.
• Shape and support a positive workplace culture by aligning HR strategy with company values, fostering an inclusive and engaging environment for all employees. 
• Lead the People team to deliver a professional, responsive and comprehensive HR service across the business.
• Develop and implement people strategies that support the organisation’s strategic objective, with a focus on growth, performance and long term capability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders and managers across the company to act as a business partner. Provide coaching and expert advice to managers on all aspects of people leadership, including team development, organisational change and business transformation.
• Oversee the recruitment process from sourcing to selection and manage onboarding and offboarding activities to ensure a positive experience for employees throughout their lifecycle. 
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes for greater efficiency and responsiveness to stakeholders.

Oversee all aspects on HR management and employee lifecycle, including but not limited to:

• Employee contracts and onboarding 
• Disciplinary and grievance matters
• Capability and performance management
• Mentoring and coaching frameworks
• Salary, benefits and conditions of employment
• Talent Management and succession planning
• Appraisals and performance management systems.

Please note the above is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the level of the post, as directed by management. 

Contract Details

This is a part-time position, working 3 days per week from our Edinburgh office. Flexibility can be discussed at interview stage.

Requirements

Qualifications/ memberships or equivalent 🎓

• CIPD Level 7 / Degree qualified is desirable but not essential if supported by substantial, relevant experience.

Experience, skills and knowledge ✍️

• Significant practical HR experience (typically 5+), ideally in both operational and strategic roles
• Proven track record in handling employee relations, performance management and organisational change
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, redundancies, disciplinary and grievance processes and GDPR
• Experience supporting a global organisation is highly desirable, and if possible experience with staff located in one or more of the USA, EU and Singapore.

Personal qualities & attributes 💥

• Excellent organisational and analytical skills
• Proven ability to empower develop and motivate teams
• Ability to thrive under pressure and effectively handle change
• Clear and concise communication skills in English, both written and verbal
• Understanding of commercial considerations and financial implications of decision management.
• Flexible and able to multi-task
• Detail-orientated

Additional 💻

• Legal right to work in the UK
• Ability to communicate in English fluently

Benefits

This position will join an incredibly talented and diverse workforce as part of a pioneering and visionary technology start-up. In return, on top of a competitive salary you can expect:

Paid Time Off 🌴

• Annual 28 days’ holiday allowance (pro rata for part time employees)
• Paid for holiday closure 24th December to 1st January inclusive

Free food and drink 🥤

• Fully stocked kitchen with hot and cold drinks, snacks and fruit daily
• Free soft and alcoholic drinks at social events

Fun Socialising 🕺

• Board games nights
• Quizzes
• Staff-run sport clubs
• Variety of social events 

Self improvement and learning 🧠

• Annual L&D budget
• Established Employee Forum
• 'Made Easy' sessions on exciting topics 
• Chance to learn from diverse colleagues with heritage from around the world
• An amazing innovative working environment

Workplace upgrades 💻 📈

• Modern newly refurbished office in Edinburgh
• Standing desk
• Chill out areas
• Casual clothing attire when in the workplace
• Company branded swag

Positive health and wellbeing 💚

• Optional private healthcare
• Seasonal wellbeing activities
• Access to Mental health first aiders

Other Info:

We value our staff and treat everyone with respect and without discrimination. We are committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from a diverse and multicultural workforce.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, please let us know, and we will do our best to support you.

Please note this is an Edinburgh, UK based role and applicants will require a legal right to work in the UK.

The established company Speech Graphics Ltd has headquarters based in Edinburgh and with other workbases located in Hungary, Singapore and the USA.