HR Manager – John Lobb

Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

• Job Category HR, Organisation - Generalist
• Years of Experience Minimum 6 years
• Contract Type Unlimited contract
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Store - John Lobb Northampton
• Legal Employer J.L & COMPANY LTD
• Posting Date 01/28/2026, 01:18 PM

For more than 150 years, John Lobb has upheld the highest standards of craftsmanship and design in the creation of hand-made shoes and boots for men.

A company of the Hermes group since 1976, the bespoke footwear is still hand-crafted in our workshop in Paris while the ready to wear collections are manufactured in our Northampton factory.

John Lobb owns a global distribution network that includes twenty stores established in eight countries and works with a highly selective network of partners and authorized retailers around the world.

About JL & Co Ltd

JL & Co Ltd oversees John Lobb’s UK & US operations, which include:

• Our historic shoemaking factory in Northampton,
• An office and warehouse located nearby,
• A Factory Shop,
• One store in London,
• And office and two stores in the USA (New York, Los Angeles).

The perimeter currently employs more than 100 employees in the UK, including 70 artisans across crafting, stitching, and cutting, and close to 15 employees in the US.

This role is central to supporting our people, preserving our artisanal culture, and enabling the continued excellence of our Northampton factory.

Role Purpose

As the HR Manager, you will oversee all day-to-day HR operations for the Northampton site, ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and alignment with John Lobb’s culture and the Hermès Group Social Model. This generalist role combines hands on HR expertise with a strategic perspective. Working closely with the Industrial Director in Northampton and the HR Director in Paris, you will help shape and implement the HR strategy.

You will supervise the Payroll Expert and collaborate regularly with our International Commercial and Finance Directors, supporting teams across the UK and the US.

The role focuses on driving performance, employee wellbeing, employee relations, and skills development, with strong analytical skills and solid project management being essential.

Your HR mission will aim to:

Provide HR expertise to managers in team leadership and development.

Translate site and John Lobb strategic priorities into concrete HR actions and projects.

Ensure a positive and constructive work environment.

Support individual and organisational growth, with a focus on talent development, critical competencies and performance.

Foster understanding of the House and the Hermès Group, reinforcing pride and belonging.

Key Responsibilities

Implement and monitor the HR strategy across all dimensions of the function, in line with the Social Model and values of the Hermès Group

Lead and structure change management initiatives to support organisational evolutions within the factory, retail teams, and support functions across the UK

Support managers and teams through transitions, providing clarity, communication, and tailored coaching to facilitate understanding and engagement.

Actively participate in the steering of the site’s strategic projects in collaboration with the Industrial Director and HR Director.

Recruitment & Talent Development

Guarantee the quality of the recruitment process and onboarding experience, whether for external hires or internal mobility.

Ensure respectful, inclusive, and compliant hiring practices.

Lead performance evaluation cycles, training plans, talent reviews (in coordination with the Global HR team), and mobility planning, and drive the associated action plans.

Maintain and update job descriptions for all roles.

Ensure performance reviews are completed on time and to a high standard. Support managers in drafting objectives and development plans.

Prepare contracts, offers, and onboarding documentation.

Coordinate onboarding plans and ensure new joiners have the necessary equipment, access and tools.

Create tailored induction programmes for teams and managers.

Monitor probation periods and support managers in conducting timely evaluations.

Employee Relations

Maintain a high-quality social…