HR Manager (New Joint Venture) (m/f/*)

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Job Description:

HR Manager (m/f/x)

3M announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Bain Capital to form a new Joint Venture which will combine Scott Safety and Madison Fire and Rescue. 3M's deep expertise and track record in the safety industry combined with Bain Capital's capability to integrate businesses, accelerate growth and drive synergies make this an ideal partnership.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

The successful candidate may be employed by 3M prior to closing and the position is expected to transition to the Joint Venture following completion of the transaction. Role scope and timing are subject to business needs and successful transaction close.

For more information, please refer to the press release: 3M to create a leading fire and safety business; acquires Madison Fire & Rescue and combines with Scott Safety - Mar 19, 2026

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As an HR Manager at our Skelmersdale manufacturing site, you will play a key role in driving a positive employee experience in a unionized environment. You will operate with a high degree of independence while partnering closely with leadership and a broader, globally distributed HR team.

You will:

• Lead day-to-day HR operations and employee relations, serving as a trusted advisor on investigations, absence, grievances, and disciplinary matters

• Partner with plant leadership and union representatives to maintain strong industrial relations and support business objectives

• Coach and guide managers to build capability and confidence in handling people-related issues

• Exercise sound judgment in assessing risk, resolving issues, and determining when to escalate or engage external counsel

• Ensure compliance with UK employment law, policies, and collective agreements, driving continuous improvement in HR practices

• Support organizational changes, including restructuring, shift changes, and redundancy processes

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment for hourly and salaried roles, aligned to production and business needs

• Partner with leadership on workforce planning and staffing forecasts based on operational demand

• Support compensation processes, including union negotiations, merit planning, and market adjustments to remain competitive

• Collaborate with payroll and external vendors to ensure consistent and compliant HR service delivery

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, we are looking for candidates who meet following minimum requirements:

Required:

• CIPD qualified

• Proven HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations, ideally within a manufacturing or logistics environment

• Experience working in a unionised environment

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage sensitive matters with discretion

• Strong problem-solving, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills

• Proven ability to influence leaders and balance employee needs with business priorities

Additional knowledge / nice-to-have skills / preferred qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Experience working within a multinational, matrixed organisation

• Degree in a relevant discipline

• Proven ability to navigate change in complex and evolving environments

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages effectively to diverse audiences

Work Location: The position is located on-site at Skelmersdale.

Travel expectation: May include up to 5%

Working pattern - Full time

Resources for You

For more details on what happens before, during and after the interview process, check out the Insights for Candidates page at 3M.com/careers. If you have further questions please reach out to Max (our AI Virtual Assistant) via our Career Page.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.

Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.

At 3M, we believe diversity & inclusion are essential to innovation. We seek and value differences in people! This Job ad is addressed to all potential candidates. As an equal opportunity employer 3M will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race/ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy/maternity-related matters, age or disability, or any other relevant characteristic protected under applicable local law.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

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