Head of People & Culture UK & EMEA

Our philosophy at The Travel Corporation (TTC) is simple, we create enriching experiences for travelers by combining an unbeatable mix of exceptional service and quality at great value. As a global business with over 100 years of experience in the travel industry, our ethos of being ‘Driven by Service’ ensures we keep our values of passion, people and purpose at the heart of everything we do - designing and running immersive, innovative and responsible travel experiences for our guests across 70 countries. Join us in creating life-changing moments for every guest across our award-winning brands and experience the TTC difference.

OUR VALUES

• Driven by service
• An inherent passion for travel
• Commitment to our customers and to our people
• Commitment to social responsibility and our 5-year sustainability strategy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of People & Culture leads UK and EMEA HR activities and supports both strategic and day-to-day people initiatives across the business. Reporting to the CPO and managing a team of five, you will oversee the UK and EMEA People & Culture function, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance, DEI, and engagement. As a senior leadership team member, you’ll help shape the P+C strategy and act as a trusted advisor to leaders. You’ll also foster a culture that embodies our founding principle of being Driven by Service - empowering our people to exceed expectations, stay guest-focused, and live our values with purpose.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PEOPLE STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP

• Lead the delivery of the People & Culture strategy across the UK and EMEA, aligning with broader business goals.
• Partner with the Global CPO and Executive Team to deliver strategic P&C initiatives and business outcomes.
• Partner with UK and European business leaders to advise on organisational planning, engagement strategies, and team development.
• Monitor changes in employment legislation and identify associated risks, opportunities, and actions.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Lead, coach and develop the P&C team to build capability, drive performance, and achieve functional objectives, as well as supporting their growth and potential.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and accountability.

PEOPLE OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE

• Maintain and update HR policies to ensure compliance with legislation and industry best practice.
• Oversee employee relations and ensure consistent, fair, and legal resolution of issues.
• Manage termination processes, including severance, documentation, and exit interviews, ensuring a professional and empathetic approach.
• Proactively collaborate with payroll to identify payroll-business reporting opportunities and metrics that drive enhanced productivity.

TALENT ACQUISITION & ONBOARDING

• Communicate and support the delivery of the Company's EVP.
• Innovate in talent attraction and employer branding.
• Ensure recruitment processes offer great candidate experience.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Manage fair and competitive remuneration and enhance the benefits suite.
• Ensure compliance with remuneration and benefits for all employees to ensure fairness and potential competitive advantage in the industry.
• Enhance employee engagement through feedback, initiatives and programs.
• Support and promote the reward and recognition program.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE, CULTURE & ENGAGEMENT

• Champion a culture of inclusion and engagement rooted in our Driven by Service principle.
• Lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement, feedback, and recognition.
• Promote employee wellbeing and ensure a positive, guest-focused workplace experience.

ROLE SUCCESS CRITERIA

• Strategic Alignment & Delivery: Successfully deliver the UK and EMEA People & Culture strategy aligned to business goals, evidenced by clear delivery of annual strategic priorities agreed with the CPO and Executive Team.
• Team Development & Capability Growth: Achieve year-on-year improvements in P&C team engagement and capability with clear individual development plans in place for all direct reports and successors identified for critical roles.
• Employee Relations & Compliance Excellence: Maintain 100% compliance with UK and European employment legislation, with zero upheld employee relations cases, and all policies updated in line with legal and industry changes within 3 months of regulatory updates.
• Hiring & Onboarding Effectiveness: Achieve an average time-to-fill of under 45 days for roles, whilst embedding a clear and consistent candidate experience across the UK and European business.
• Culture, Engagement & Retention: Increase employee engagement scores across the UK and European business, with measurable improvement in perception of leadership, recognition, and wellbeing.

KEY INDIVIDUAL TRAITS

• Adaptability: Demonstrates the ability to adjust effectively to changing environments, priorities, and challenges. Embraces new ideas and approaches with flexibility and openness.
• Collaborative: Builds strong relationships and works cross-functionally with a consultative, co-creative approach to influence and align others in a fast-paced environment.
• Service Orientation: Strives to deliver exceptional service with empathy, responsiveness, and a solutions-focused approach.

YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in a senior HR role with a strong track record of impact.
• In-depth knowledge of UK and European employment law and multi-state HR compliance.
• Proven success in delivering commercially focused, generalist HR support within medium to large-scale service organisations.
• Skilled at partnering with senior leadership on strategy, engagement, and change management, while effectively influencing on HR matters such as organisational design and employee engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching capabilities, with a history of developing high-performing teams.
• Experienced in applying project management principles to deliver both local and cross-regional HR initiatives.
• Passion for travel or prior exposure to the travel industry, preferred.

TRAVEL & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location: Hybrid (office & remote) - details to be agreed with line manager.
• Travel: To be discussed.

The Travel Corporation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We not only encourage and support diversity in the workplace, we celebrate it! If you feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment, we want to hear from you!