De Beers People and Operations Manager

About De Beers

Founded in 1888, De Beers is a leading international diamond group whose expertise spans diamond discovery, sourcing, grading and luxury jewellery. With deep roots in southern Africa and a global presence, the group brings together scientific knowledge, technical precision and creative craftsmanship. As an employer, De Beers offers career paths across mining, engineering, gemmology, jewellery design, retail and corporate functions. Its multidisciplinary environment connects the origins of natural diamonds with their transformation into exceptional creations. Professionals join a business where heritage meets innovation, and where provenance, responsible practices and evolving consumer expectations are central to the future of the diamond industry.

Role & Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR contact for managers and employees across the UK Diamond Trading business, providing practical advice throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Advise managers on performance, conduct, absence, capability, employee engagement, disciplinary and grievance matters; manage employee relations cases through resolution.
• Build relationships with business leaders to understand priorities and people challenges, and support organisational changes, team restructures and business initiatives.
• Apply HR policies, procedures and people practices consistently, ensuring employee relations matters are handled fairly and in line with company policy and UK employment legislation.
• Support investigations, hearings and consultation activities; identify and appropriately escalate complex or high-risk employee relations matters.
• Lead and coordinate end-to-end recruitment, partnering with hiring managers to define requirements, manage processes and secure high-quality candidates.
• Coordinate job advertising, candidate sourcing, interviews, offers, onboarding and induction; maintain relationships with recruitment agencies and other external suppliers as required.
• Support workforce planning discussions and provide recruitment insights and data to leaders.
• Coordinate annual performance, talent and reward processes; support leaders in identifying talent, development opportunities and succession requirements.
• Help managers and employees access learning and development opportunities, and coordinate onboarding and induction to support employee integration and effectiveness.
• Support efficient and accurate HR operations; maintain employee records, HR system data and contractual documentation.
• Coordinate payroll inputs and changes, ensuring accurate and timely submission to payroll providers; assist employees and managers with payroll and benefits queries and liaise with external providers to resolve issues.
• Monitor HR processes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation and company policies; support internal and external audits, monitor people-related risks and maintain appropriate controls.
• Contribute to HR reporting, workforce data analysis and management information requirements.
• Support local employee engagement, wellbeing and communication initiatives, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment across both UK locations.
• Build trusted relationships with employees and help ensure a consistent, high-quality people experience throughout the employment lifecycle.
• Provide day-to-day HR partnership and operational support to leaders, managers and employees across the London and Maidenhead sites, with a visible presence at both locations.

Qualifications

• Strong HR generalist experience in a corporate or commercial environment.
• Sound knowledge of UK employment legislation and employee relations practices.
• Experience managing recruitment and onboarding activities.
• Experience supporting performance management, talent and organisational change activities.
• Good understanding of payroll administration, employee benefits and HR systems.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities across geographically separate locations.
• CIPD qualification or working towards one is preferred.

Skills

Culture

De Beers’ workplace culture combines the technical expertise of the diamond industry with the craftsmanship and client focus of luxury jewellery, bringing together diverse disciplines across an international business. Its professional environment emphasises collaboration, safety and responsible sourcing, with a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of natural diamonds from origin to finished creation.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.