Lea Johnson

An experienced HR People Professional with a strong background in delivering compliant, efficient HR services across the full employee lifecycle. I provide experience in employee relations, recruitment coordination, HR systems and governance to mitigate risk and ensure best practices. I offer a digitally confident, data-informed approach to HR that strengthens decision-making, improves recruitment outcomes, and supports an inclusive, values-led workplace culture.

I am highly organised, proactive and trusted as a first point of contact for employees, balancing administrative accuracy with positive engagement and continuous improvement.

HR Coordinator at East Kent Mencap (2022-04 – Present)

• Acts as a standalone HR Advisor for a workforce of 106 plus employees.
• Leads the delivery of day-to-day HR services, providing trusted, timely advice to managers across multiple services, enabling fair, confident and compliant people decisions.
• Holds responsibility for the full employee lifecycle, improving consistency, reducing risk and ensuring a positive employee experience from onboarding to exit.
• Manages and leads complex employee relations cases, including but not limited to grievances, disciplinary hearings, dismissals, and redundancies, thus mitigating legal risk and supporting ethical, well-informed outcomes.
• Provides HR advice and guidance to managers across the organisation.
• Owns HR systems and employee records, strengthening data accuracy, GDPR compliance and audit readiness.
• Manages DBS and safeguarding processes, ensuring regulatory requirements are met and safeguarding risks are effectively managed.
• Takes responsibility for end-to-end recruitment, managing recruitment activity across high-volume frontline roles, delivering inclusive, ACAS-aligned practices that support fair hiring in a challenging charity labour market.
• Delivers the full 360 degree recruitment cycle, including writing job descriptions, advertising, updating the ATS (Hireful) and company website, and applicant screening, coordinating interviews and making job offers.
• Processes accurate payroll from start to finish using advanced Excel for all 106 employees, including calculating average weekly earnings, holiday pay, sick pay (CSP and SSP), and contractual data resulting in a reduction of errors and employee queries.
• Manages the onboarding process, including preparation of contracts and offer letters and new starter administration, delivering inductions and complying with safer recruitment requirements.
• Ensures the effective maintenance of training and compliance records supporting organisational learning and statutory requirements.
• Contributes to wellbeing, engagement and inclusion initiatives that reinforce organisational values and support staff retention.

Customer Experience Manager at Sainsbury's (2018-06 – 2022-04)

Led a high-performing customer service operation within a fast-paced retail environment, with full responsibility for colleague management, service standards and operational delivery. Trusted to lead teams through change, manage complex people matters and deliver a consistently positive customer experience while meeting commercial and compliance requirements.

Store Manager at Iceland (2016-04 – 2018-06)

As Store Manager at Iceland, I led all aspects of retail store operations, with full responsibility for sales performance, stock availability, customer service and day-to-day trading standards. I managed rota planning, recruitment and performance of store teams to ensure the right people were in place to deliver a fast, efficient customer experience. I drove compliance with food safety, health and safety and company procedures, while controlling costs and minimising waste.

This role required strong commercial awareness, hands-on leadership and the ability to motivate teams to consistently meet operational and service targets in a high-volume retail environment.

Customer Service/Admin/HR Business Partner at Asda (2007-05 – 2016-04)

During my time at Asda, I was promoted to various roles, including HR Business Partner, Customer Service Manager and Admin Manager, with significant responsibility for leading and developing large colleague teams. I managed recruitment, onboarding, rotas, absence, performance and employee relations, supporting colleagues through day-to-day issues and applying policies consistently and fairly. I coached managers and team leaders to improve engagement, performance and service standards, while handling sensitive people matters with professionalism and empathy.

Alongside this, I maintained oversight of customer service delivery, compliance and key administrative processes, strengthening my ability to balance strong people leadership with operational demands in a high-volume retail environment.

Customer Service Manager at Tesco (2004-05 – 2007-05)

Customer Service Manager at Tesco with responsibility for both in-store service and petrol station operations. Led frontline teams, managing rotas, performance, absence and day-to-day people matters while maintaining high customer service standards. Held accountability for complaint resolution and compliance with health and safety, fuel and cash-handling regulations in a fast-paced retail environment.

Seamstress at S&M Fashions (1990-01 – 2004-05)

Worked as a seamstress within a production environment, manufacturing and assembling garments to specification while consistently meeting quality standards and production deadlines.

CIPD LEVEL 3 (2024-10)

CIPD LEVEL 5 (2026-01)