People make the difference.
Help us build the team behind the team with this permanent full-time role in South Brent, Devon.
SA Safety Ltd is a specialist rescue and safety company based in South Devon. We deliver life-critical training, standby rescue services, and safety solutions to some of the most demanding industrial environments in the UK. Our work matters – and so do our people.
We’re growing fast, and we’re building the infrastructure to match our ambition. That means investing in the right foundations – and right now, the most important foundation is our people function.
The Role
This is a newly created, standalone People Manager role reporting directly to the Managing Director. You’ll have genuine ownership: building our HR function from the ground up, shaping how we recruit, develop, and retain the talented people who make SA Safety what it is.
This isn’t a tick-box HR role. It’s a strategic and hands-on position at the heart of a business that’s going somewhere. If you want to see the direct impact of your work, you’ll find it here.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Building and delivering a people strategy aligned with our 3-5 year growth plan.
- Establishing the HR policies, procedures, and frameworks we’ll scale with.
- Owning the full person lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to development and offboarding.
- Acting as a trusted adviser to our leadership team on all things people-related.
- Driving employee and contractor engagement, wellbeing, and a culture of high performance.
- Introducing HR systems and reporting that support smart business decisions.
- Building manager capability and helping our team leaders get the best from their people.
- Ensuring compliance with UK employment law and best practice across the board.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience in a standalone or lead HR / People Manager role.
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
- Experience building and implementing policies, processes, and people initiatives.
- A confident, hands-on approach – you’re comfortable with both strategy and the detail.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust at every level of the business.
- Self-motivated and organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
- CIPD Level 5 or above (or equivalent experience) — desirable but not essential.
The Honest Bit
This is a standalone role – you won’t have a team around you from day one. You’ll need to be comfortable with ambiguity, confident making decisions independently, and motivated by the opportunity to shape something new rather than inherit something established.
In return, you’ll have real autonomy, direct access to the leadership team, and the satisfaction of knowing the people strategy you build is yours. As the business grows, so will this role.
What You’ll Get
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Pension contributions (employer percentage to be confirmed)
- 28 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
- Private medical for you and your family
- Flexible working arrangements
- Free parking on site
- A working environment where your
contribution is seen, valued, and rewarded.
How to apply
Interested in joining us? To apply, send your CV and a short covering note (no more than half a page) telling us what draws you to this role and what you’d look to achieve in your first six months. Closing date is 17th June 2026.
Applications to: [email protected] with the subject line: People Manager Application – [Your Name]
SA Safety Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of background, and we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team.
