What Does An Human Resources Manager Do? (Including the Main Roles and Responisibilities)

Although the results of their work are not quantifiable or too obvious, Human Resources departments are crucial for any organization in the current fast-changing business realm.

Regardless of the size or industry, as long as a company has employees, it features the Human Resources manager position, serving as a bridge between upper management and employees.

The HR manager role is critical for the company culture as they create and implement programs to boost employee performance and fulfillment while strategizing with the executives on decisions impacting the staff at every level.

Typically, the HR manager leads the HR department and plays a significant part in fostering a thriving workplace environment and a sustainable transformation.

TABLE OF CONTENT

  • Definition of Human Resources Manager
  • What does/ does not an HR manager do?
  • The main responsibilities of the Human Resources manager
  • Key skills for an efficient Human Resources manager
  • How to become a skilled HR manager
  • The HR manager of the future
  • Job description for HR Manager

Definition of Human Resources Manager

The HR manager is a professional who develops, plans and coordinates the Human Resources team and the administrative and organizational functions of the company.

Practically, the HR manager conducts HR strategy and specific processes such as talent acquisition, learning & development, career growth, performance & recognition, and workplace policies while engaging with the business leaders on strategic planning for future staffing and the workplace culture.

Since you are the link between your organization's leadership and workforce, they see you as a highly trusted advisor on every employment-related topic.

 

What does/ does not an HR manager do?

In the dynamic work environment of today, the role of the HR manager is not just pivotal, but instrumental in driving the company towards success.

From talent acquisition to compliance, HR managers are responsible for providing clear guidance and directions, contributing to building a thriving workplace. Their role in ensuring employee satisfaction and career growth is pivotal, making them key players in the success of any organization.

 

What does an HR manager do

What doesn’t an HR manager do

Recruit and hire new staff

Make the final decision on hiring or firing

Manage HR-related financial elements

Manage worker’s daily tasks

Links management and employees

Make business decisions

Conflict management and resolution

Handles all employee conflicts

Manage and oversee the Performance Review

Manage all aspects of the Performance Review

Ensure compliance with labor laws

Make legal decisions

Health & Safety training

Handle All Employee Training

Recognition & Reward

Develop the organization’s strategic plan

Develop employee-focused strategies

 

Build a strong workplace culture

 

  

The main responsibilities of the HR manager

Now that you know the broad definition of the Human Resources manager, let's dive deeper and learn more about roles and responsibilities.

So, what does a Human Resources manager do on a day-to-day basis?

While the responsibilities of an HR manager differ based on the organization size, here are the most common ones.

1. Recruiting and hiring new staff

The job of the HR chief is paramount for an effective recruitment process. The first step is to compare your company's needs against the talent pools. Once you identify those gaps, you must interview and select the candidates with the skills and expertise critical to the organization's future success.

2. Managing the HR-related financial elements

As the HR manager, you establish accurate processes for a smooth payroll. Moreover, you must design competitive employee benefits packages, establish the budget, allocate resources for these programs, and ensure everyone is fairly compensated for their work.

3. The link between management and employees

As the HR manager, you serve as a vital link, much like a river bridge, connecting the management and the workforce. Your role is to shape and improve the employee-employer relations.

You represent the communication channel, ensuring that top management information reaches all employees while gathering and channeling their feedback to the right managers.

4. Conflict management and resolution

This is the truth. Conflicts are a inherent component of any workplace, and to a certain extent, can even be healthy for a team. As the HR manager, your responsibility is to prevent or de-escalate these conflicts before they become significant issues that can negatively impact employee productivity and morale.

As the HR manager, you must provide a safe environment for both sides to voice their concerns, facilitate dialogue, and work towards finding the best mutual solutions. As a HR supervisor, your duty in conflict resolution is required, as it directly impacts workplace harmony and employee morale.

5. Managing and overseeing Performance Reviews

The Performance Review tool is essential for gathering and providing feedback, setting goals, and guiding staff members. While Performance Review is a one-on-one process between the manager and a team member, the HR manager must collaborate with leaders and develop clear performance criteria that align with the organizational strategic plan.

6. Ensuring compliance with employment laws

Your role as the HR manager is crucial to ensure the procedures, policies, and processes adhere to labor laws and regulations applicable to the workplace, regardless of the company's size, industry, and location.

A legal background is a plus for the HR manager position as it involves consistent updating on legislation changes and adapting the internal rules on wages, equality, and workplace safety to maintain compliance.

7. Health and Safety training

Health and Safety are two concepts crucial in the workplace environment. The role of the HR manager is to assess the risks associated with every position within the company and ensure resources and training sessions for employees to learn about Health & Safety principles and standards.

By promoting a safe and healthy workplace environment, the HR manager contributes to enhancing employee engagement and work-life balance.

8. Rewarding excellent work

The HR manager position allows you to recognize employees' good behaviors and advise leaders to reward excellent work. You can use one of the existing tools, such as "Employee of the Month," or create a rewarding system adapted to your company workforce.

9. Developing employee-focused strategies

As the HR manager, you must keep employees front of mind and create and implement competitive programs to boost employee experience. Your role in developing employee-focused strategies is instrumental in shaping the overall employee experience within the organization.

When developing employee-focused strategies, you should consider the 5 Cs of employee engagement: Care, Connect, Coach, Contribute, and Congratulate.

10. Building a strong workplace culture

The HR manager is one of the main pillars sustaining the relations between the workforce and management. Yet, their role goes way beyond admin and payroll.

The HR manager is responsible for building or shaping the company culture by fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace for employees to thrive while considering organizational interests.

 

Key skills for an efficient HR manager

Being responsible for all aspects impacting an organization's culture, the HR manager needs a broad range of soft skills to succeed.

Some industries may require specific HR skills. Here are the most essential skills that are universal for HR managers across all businesses.

1. Communication skills

Communication is the first soft skill required in a job posting to hire an HR manager. This is only logical, as the HR manager represents the liaison between employees and managers. Everything an HR manager does requires strong verbal and written communication skills, from conducting interviews and leading conflict resolution to creating the employee handbook and designing company policies.

Since your position involves communicating with the CEO, business partners, leaders, and team members, you must be able to adapt your tone and language to your audience. At the same time, storytelling becomes a crucial communication skill, as the HR manager must convey complex data into clear and impactful stories for all levels within the organization.

2. Strategic thinking skills

In the ever-evolving work environment, a strategic mindset is critical for accurately understanding the company's vision and strategy and converting it into an execution plan. An effective HR manager envisions the future, identifies opportunities, and assesses risks while making informed decisions that align with the organization's goals.

As an HR manager, thinking strategically allows one to analyze multiple data sets, plan future steps and actions, and find and implement the best solution that will ultimately benefit the business and its workforce.

3. Decision-making skills

The HR field involves many decision-making processes. From choosing the best candidate to join your workforce to planning the best strategy to downsize, the HR manager must compare and decide whether one solution is better than another.

This process requires intuition, knowledge, and strategic thinking to support successful organizational functioning.

4. Leadership skills

As the HR manager, you are the voice that guides employees to reach their full potential and help them become leaders.

The HR manager position involves accountability and decision ownership, mainly during periods of instability. Leading by example and cultivating a coaching approach helps build effective teams, with agile employees able to anticipate and solve problems at every company level.

5. Command of technology

New technologies, the Internet, and, more recently, COVID-19 have impacted every aspect of our lives. New software, tools, and apps are shaping the HR dynamic worldwide.

Every HR manager and professional must have a strong understanding and control of Human Resources Information Systems. While you don't have to be an IT expert, having experience with attendance and leave tracking systems, recruiting and payroll software, and performance management tools is essential. These solutions help you manage the life cycle of the entire workforce more accurately and efficiently. 

6. Training and growing skills

Continuous learning and development of the workforce are vital for a thriving organization.

As an HR manager, you are responsible for seeing the potential in employees (think about the areas where they improve). You must provide them with a competitive learning platform encompassing meaningful training and development programs, tools, and practice. Thus, you can synchronize an employee's professional growth with the company's progress.

7. Interpersonal and empathetic skills

HR managers are responsible for many individuals and their concerns. Interpersonal abilities, help people professionals be able to empathize with employees and understand their reasons before making any judgment or decision.

As an HR manager, you must use your emotional intelligence while listening to a wide range of people and try to de-escalate tensions objectively, regardless of the circumstances.

8. Organizational skills

As the HR manager, you are responsible for numerous tasks and processes including, but not limited to:

  • Recruiting and interviewing prospective candidates;
  • Creating engaging onboarding processes;
  • Designing individual development and performance review plans;
  • Convoking disciplinary meetings and conflict resolution;
  • Producing accurate departmental reports.

With so many critical processes and administrative tasks on your plate, excellent organizational and time management skills are crucial. These skills help you manage priorities, systematically complete them, and improve your efficiency as an HR manager.

9. Data analytics and reporting skills

As people analytics - using statistical insights of employee-related factors to make data-driven decisions - becomes more significant, so does the demand for literacy in HR reporting skills.

Strong HR reporting skills help you interpret and convey relevant data into a compelling, actionable story.

10. Teamwork

As the HR manager, you must collaborate with your team members, managers, and employees across the company. Your position allows you to participate in cross-functional teams and projects where you can share your knowledge and expertise and approach different issues from an HR perspective.

Teamwork is crucial for an organization to succeed. Being a team player boosts employee morale, collaboration, and innovation and benefits both the company and HR.

 

How to become a skilled HR manager?

The main role of any HR manager is to support and develop a company's most valuable asset: its workforce. This position is critical for attracting and retaining top talent, maintaining a positive workplace culture, promoting growth, and achieving organizational success.

Nobody becomes an efficient HR manager overnight. There are several key steps to take when pursuing a career in Human Resources management.

Step 1. Earn relevant education

While the educational background required to become a skilled HR manager is not very specific, a few fields are more relevant. According to a BambooHR report, 31% of HR professionals have a non-HR or business degree.

Earning a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or Psychology provides solid knowledge of HR theories and concepts about labor law, compensation and benefits, performance management, organizational behavior, and training and development.

Step 2. Gain on-the-job experience

Before rising to the top of the HR department, you need to learn and demonstrate your skills in entry-level positions, such as HR Specialist, HR Generalist, or HR Assistant. The requirements for these roles focus on soft skills rather than experience-based skills.

Internships and entry-level HR jobs enable you to showcase your skills and abilities and position yourself as a serious candidate for the company's HR manager.

Step 3. Gain work experience

As you progress in your career, you can assess your skills and competencies and identify areas of improvement. The self-evaluation process helps you identify the gaps in your skill set and decide on future steps to pave your path.

Continuous learning and growth accelerate your progress and increase your chances of becoming an efficient HR manager.

Step 4. Obtain additional HR certificates

Obtaining additional HR certificates demonstrates your knowledge and validates your expertise in the field. Attending certification programs enables you to update on the most recent HR trends and practices and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

Every new certificate enhances your proficiency in the HR field and gives you a competitive advantage in the job market or the company. Remember that experience, skills and certifications can help you to boost your career towards roles such as a Human Resource Business Partner.

 

The HR manager of the future

As a rule, as long as a business has employees, regardless of size, industry, or location, it typically has an HR manager responsible for people practices.

The HR manager plays a multifaceted role. While traditional skills such as communication, reporting, and leadership remain crucial, HR managers must develop future-oriented skills to stay relevant and quickly adapt to the fast-evolving work environment.

When technology consistently shapes our reality, and the business environment is at the forefront of this transformation (including the HR one), below you can find the key abilities you should proactively enhance to drive future organizational success:

  1. People and data analytics
  2. Tech-savvy
  3. Risk and change management
  4. Emotional intelligence
  5. Diversity & Inclusion
  6. Business acumen
  7. Work ethics and data privacy
  8. Critical and innovative thinking
  9. Compliance knowledge
  10. Project management.

 

Job Description for HR Manager

Job Brief: We seek an experienced and dedicated HR Manager to oversee all aspects of our organization's human resources practices and processes. As the HR Manager, you'll be a key player in developing and implementing HR strategies and initiatives that align with our overall business strategy. You will be responsible for bridging management and employee relations, managing the recruitment and selection process, and ensuring the development, engagement, and preservation of our human capital.

Responsibilities:

  • Create and implement HR strategies and initiatives that are aligned with the overall business strategies.
  • Bridge management and employee relations by effectively addressing demands, grievances, or other issues.
  • Manage the recruitment and selection process, ensuring the identification and acquisition of top talent.
  • Support ongoing and future business needs by developing, engaging, motivating, and preserving existing talent.
  • Develop and oversee overall HR strategies, methods, tactics, and procedures for the organization.
  • Foster a positive working environment that promotes employee satisfaction and productivity.
  • Oversee performance evaluation by promoting excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Maintain a competitive pay plan and benefits program to attract and retain top talent.
  • Assess training needs, develop training programs, and monitor their effectiveness.
  • Provide insights to the executive management and provide decision-making know-how using HR data analysis.
  • Ensure legal compliance throughout all aspects of human resource management.
  • Stay updated on labor laws and HR best practices to ensure compliance and implementation of effective policies.
  • Collaborate with management to address organizational challenges and drive positive change.

Requirements and Skills:

  • Experience as an HR Manager or in a similar HR role.
  • People-oriented with a strong focus on results and employee satisfaction.
  • Demonstrable experience with Human Resources metrics and data-driven decision-making.
  • Knowledge of HR systems and databases to effectively manage employee information.
  • Ability to architect HR strategies and initiatives in alignment with organizational goals.
  • Excellent active listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  • Competence in building and managing effective interpersonal relationships at all company levels.
  • In-depth knowledge of labor law regulations and HR best practices.
  • Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

Become a member of our vibrant team and add to our organization's success. As the HR Manager, you will not only boost a positive work environment, attract top talent, and implement effective HR strategies but also have the opportunity to shape our company culture and ensure the growth and development of our employees. Apply today and be a part of our mission to excellence.

Note: This job description can be customized to fit your organization's specific needs and requirements.

 

Wrap up

Human Resources is a highly flexible discipline that is critical for every organization. HR managers have an insight and understanding that other managers don't have, influencing every aspect of the business from a people perspective.

 

Automate your employee management and tracking with the easy to use cloud-based HR management software.

Easy set-up - No contracts required - No credit cards