Job Vacancies

Location: Gympanzees, South Gloucestershire, BS35 4BL (Hybrid working)

Salary: Up to £50,000 depending on experience
Hours: Full-time or 4 days per week
Reports to: CEO / COO
Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays (increasing to 30 days) + your birthday off

About Gympanzees

Gympanzees is on a mission to do something no one in the UK has ever done before: create the first fully inclusive leisure, exercise and play centre for disabled children and young people (0–25) and their families.

Based on a stunning 14-acre site in South Gloucestershire, our centre will be packed with energy and possibilities — including state-of-the-art activity rooms, outdoor adventure play, a café and shop, a lending library, and celebration spaces. Once open, it will welcome around 200,000 visits every year.

This is your chance to be part of something truly groundbreaking. At Gympanzees, you won’t just be doing a job — you’ll be helping to tear down barriers to play, friendship, exercise and joy for thousands of children and families who deserve it most.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, values-led HR Manager to lead all HR activity across Gympanzees, shaping the people, processes and culture that will bring our groundbreaking centre to life. This is a rare opportunity to build and support the team that will transform the lives of thousands of children, young people and their families.

Working closely with the CEO, COO and Centre Manager, you will play a critical role in preparing the organisation for launch — developing HR systems and policies, leading recruitment and onboarding, and ensuring the workforce is confident, supported and ready for opening. Following launch, you will oversee all day-to-day HR operations and champion a positive, inclusive culture across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-opening: Workforce planning, recruitment scheduling, HR policy and system development, onboarding preparation.
Recruitment & onboarding: Inclusive recruitment campaigns, safer recruitment processes, induction and training for staff and volunteers.
HR operations: Employee relations, performance management, absence, wellbeing and compliance.
Volunteer programme: Design and delivery of structured, inclusive volunteer pathways.
Training & development: Safeguarding, health & safety, disability awareness and ongoing learning.
Strategic contribution: HR insight, data-led decision-making and embedding Gympanzees values across the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential:
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent HR management experience.
• Proven experience establishing HR systems in a growing or start-up environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and safer recruitment.
• Experience supporting neurodivergent and disabled colleagues, including reasonable adjustments.
• Expertise across recruitment, onboarding, employee relations and wellbeing.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Highly organised, proactive and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Deep commitment to inclusion and Gympanzees mission.
• Experience in leisure or hospitality environments.

Desirable:
• Experience working in a charity or with volunteers.
• Experience supporting teams working with children or vulnerable people.
• Familiarity with HRIS implementation.

Why Join Us?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build the UK’s first fully inclusive leisure centre. You will play a pivotal role in shaping a joyful, empowering workplace and directly impact how thousands of families experience play, friendship, exercise and belonging every year.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV along with a short cover letter answering the following two questions:

• Why would you be interested in joining Gympanzees?
• Why do you think you would be a good match for this role?

Please email your application to ol******@****************nt.co

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close the role early if sufficient interest is received.

Safeguarding, Accessibility & Equality

The safety and wellbeing of the people who use our services, our volunteers, staff and wider community is our top priority. All successful applicants will be required to complete appropriate safeguarding checks.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and encourage applications from individuals regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Charity Number: 1189375