HR Operations Manager
Lead HR operations at Quintessential Brands. Own systems, data, and service delivery, driving efficiency, compliance, and team performance in a fast-growing global spirits business.
At Quintessential Brands Group, we are proud to continue the legacy of Thomas Dakin, the visionary who pioneered quality English gin in 1761. Today, our award-winning portfolio spans iconic names like Greenall’s, Opihr, Thomas Dakin, The Dubliner, and Chamère, our exciting new venture in RTD cocktails.
A Taste of the Job
As our HR Operations Manager, you’ll take ownership of how HR services are delivered across Quintessential Brands, ensuring our processes, systems, and data are efficient, compliant, and built to support a growing global business.
Reporting to the Group HR Director, you’ll lead the HR Operations function, overseeing the full employee lifecycle from hire to retire. You’ll be responsible for optimising systems, strengthening governance, and driving continuous improvement across HR processes, ensuring the business receives a high-quality, reliable, and scalable HR service.
This is a key role at the centre of HR, combining people leadership, systems ownership, and operational excellence. You’ll work closely with HRBPs, IT, and external partners to ensure our HR infrastructure supports both current needs and future growth.
Your Impact Will Include
HR Operations & Service Delivery
Oversee end-to-end HR processes, ensuring they are compliant, efficient, and aligned to business needs.
Maintain and continuously improve HR process documentation and service standards.
Implement and track KPIs, SLAs, and performance measures across HR operations.
Systems & Data Management
Own and manage HR systems, including HRIS, payroll, LMS, CRM, and self-service platforms.
Ensure system security, user access controls, and audit compliance.
Maintain high levels of data accuracy through validation and governance processes.
Deliver accurate, timely HR reporting and insights to stakeholders.
Governance & Compliance
Ensure all HR operations comply with UK employment legislation, GDPR, and audit requirements.
Maintain robust audit frameworks and risk management processes.
Oversee governance frameworks for employee relations processes, ensuring consistency and compliance.
Team Leadership
Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary HR Operations team (HR Advisors, Payroll, HR Administration).
Drive a high-performance culture through clear objectives, KPIs, and regular performance management.
Support team development, capability building, and succession planning.
Stakeholder & Supplier Management
Build strong relationships with HR, IT, and business stakeholders.
Manage third-party providers and ensure delivery against agreed SLAs.
Act as a key link between HR and the wider business to ensure service excellence.
Continuous Improvement & Change
Identify and implement process improvements across HR operations and systems.
Support system enhancements, upgrades, and optimisation initiatives.
Contribute to operational change and improvement projects across HR.
A Flavour of the Business
At Quintessential Brands, we’re a unique blend, a fast-growing global spirits business with more than 250 years of distilling heritage. Our award-winning portfolio spans brands enjoyed around the world, supported by teams who keep our business running smoothly behind the scenes.
We operate in a lean, agile environment where continuous improvement is part of our DNA. Joining QB, as we’re known to our friends, means playing a key role in shaping how our people processes evolve as we grow.
The Perfect Serve – A Bit About You
You’re an experienced HR operations professional who thrives on structure, efficiency, and delivering high-quality service. You combine strong systems knowledge with people leadership, and you’re confident driving improvements in a fast-paced environment.
You will bring:
Proven experience leading HR Operations, including payroll and administration.
Strong knowledge of end-to-end HR processes and employee lifecycle management.
Significant experience working with HR systems and payroll platforms (e.g. HRIS, Kronos, LMS).
Strong understanding of data management, reporting, and HR analytics.
Experience implementing and improving processes, KPIs, and SLAs.
Solid knowledge of UK employment legislation, GDPR, and compliance frameworks.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across the business.
A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
Advanced Excel skills and experience working with data-driven reporting.
The Garnish – Benefits That Come With the Role
We know our people are the most important ingredient in our success. That’s why we offer:
Company pension scheme
Annual bonus opportunity
25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Staff product allowance and discounts
Healthcare
Life Insurance
The Essence of QB
At Quintessential Brands Group, we proudly continue the legacy of Thomas Dakin, the visionary who pioneered quality English gin in 1761. Today, we blend heritage with ambition, building brands and teams that thrive globally.
As HR Operations Manager, you’ll play a central role in ensuring our people processes are as strong, scalable, and high-performing as the brands we create.
- Team
- HR
- Locations
- G&J Distillers (Warrington)
Our Culture - The Essence of Quintessential Brands
We're an 'all hands on deck' kind of place where you'll have the opportunity to get involved in end to end projects, implement systems and process. We're fast, agile and entrepreneurial but, most importantly, our people are at the heart of what we do.
While we do work hard, we do it with a sense of fun, pride and passion that you won't find anywhere else.
Are you never shaken and very rarely stirred? More Cosmopolitan than Old Fashioned? Approach everything you do with a dash of creativity and a squeeze of positivity? Then we need you!
About Quintessential Brands Group
Established in 2011, Quintessential Brands Group is one of the most successful spirits companies to emerge from the UK in the last decade. The company offers a complete range of services and products to its customers across the world; producing and distributing some of the world's most-loved spirits brands, including Greenall's, the Original London Dry Gin, Opihr Spiced Gin and BLOOM Gin, as well as developing and producing some of the most commercially successful retailer brands of recent years for trade customers, and co-packing for some of the world’s most well-known spirits brands.
Recognised by the industry as International Spirits Challenge Gin Distiller of the Year five times in the last six years, Quintessential Brands is renowned for its unrivalled gin distilling capabilities heritage dating back to 1761 and is emerging as one of the most dynamic new entrants in the Irish whiskey market with the Dublin Liberties Distillery. With world-class product development and manufacturing at four world-class production sites across Europe and an award-winning premium brand portfolio comprised of English Gins, Irish Whiskeys, Irish Creams and Liqueurs, Quintessential Brands is committed to being the indispensable spirits partner of choice to its customers across the world, with customers and insights at the heart of everything we do.