Group HR Director - Europe

Group HR Director – Europe

Do you have the credibility, resilience, and cultural intelligence to align HR strategy and practices across five European countries, each with unique legislation, local dynamics, and varying levels of team capability?

Have you experience designing and embedding scalable HR systems such as talent frameworks, performance management, and compensation structures – across a decentralised, complex organisation?

Do you have the commercial mindset and leadership presence to influence a new senior team, drive organisational change without direct authority, and define what good looks like in a business mid-transformation?

MacGregor Black is partnering with a global food and beverage manufacturing business, looking for a European HR Director. This is a permanent role based in Greater London, United Kingdom.

As the European HR Director you will be responsible for rebuilding and aligning HR capability across five countries, developing a cohesive people strategy that supports business stability and sets the foundation for growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Pan-European HR Alignment: Design and implement a consistent, compliant HR strategy across France, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and UK/Ireland. Ensure transferability of key platforms (onboarding, training, communication, performance, etc.) across all countries.
• Policy & Compliance: Establish and harmonise policies, procedures, and frameworks. Ensure full compliance with local employment laws and group standards, taking into account cultural and legal nuances, including work councils.
• Capabilities Uplift: Assess the maturity of HR teams across the region. Provide mentoring, support, and structured development to uplift HR capability – including those prematurely promoted. Create a clear standard for performance and delivery.
• Strategic Workforce Planning: Build a fit-for-purpose HR structure that meets current and future business needs. Support organisational redesign, talent planning, and succession management across all countries.
• Process Optimisation & Digitalisation: Identify and eliminate manual, inefficient processes. Drive adoption of shared systems and data-led decision making to streamline operations and elevate the employee experience.
• Cultural Integration: Support the development of a shared European culture built around the same values, behaviours, and ways of working. Lead initiatives that support alignment, engagement, and performance across diverse teams.
• Executive Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and SLT, contributing to broader business transformation decisions and helping “steady the ship” during a period of intense change.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience as a senior HR leader with multi-country responsibility across Europe, including strong working knowledge of France, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, and UK/Ireland.
• Deep understanding of compliance frameworks, cultural dynamics, and the unique challenges of managing works councils, differing employment laws, and varying HR maturity levels.
• Strong track record of leading HR transformation across structure, systems, and culture.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to align HR plans to business objectives and drive measurable results.
• Skilled in mentoring and upskilling teams, with a practical understanding of how to define, communicate, and implement “what good looks like.”
• Experienced in digital HR tools, automation, and leveraging data to drive decision making.
• Comfortable operating without direct reports but with full accountability for regional HR impact.

Salary upto £150k plus benefits.

Please contact Alice Redmond for more information today.