At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead talent strategy, coaching, and employee engagement initiatives.
- Company: William Reed is a global media group focused on agribusiness, food processing, and hospitality.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25+ days leave, volunteer days, and wellbeing perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping talent and fostering an inclusive culture.
- Qualifications: CIPD level 7 preferred; experience in senior HR roles and coaching required.
- Other info: Hybrid working options available; we value diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
We are William Reed, a global media group delivering exceptional content through events, digital, data & insight. From agribusiness, ingredients and food processing, to retail, hospitality & fine dining – we provide the inspiration, insight and connections to power our customers’ success. We have offices in Gatwick, Brighton and London, UK; Montpellier, France; Singapore and Chicago, US. In line with the Company’s current Agile Working Policy, the successful candidate would be eligible to work part of the week from our Gatwick office and to work remotely for the rest of the week. We offer a flexible working environment and candidates seeking either full-time or part-time opportunities are encouraged to apply.
We’re looking for a Head of Talent to play a leading role in shaping our talent strategy – attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining top-tier talent across William Reed. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you’ll join a collaborative and passionate People team, taking the lead in building a robust talent ecosystem that supports our growth, success, and values. You’ll manage and develop the Talent Acquisition Manager and People Partner – Learning & Engagement, empowering them to deliver their objectives and drive meaningful, people-focused initiatives. This role blends strategic and operational leadership across talent acquisition, learning and development, succession planning, talent management, coaching, and employee engagement – with the autonomy and visibility to make a lasting impact.
What you’ll be doing:
- Play a leading role in defining a company-wide talent strategy aligned with organisational goals and values.
- Partner with senior leaders to integrate talent initiatives that support business needs.
- Provide coaching and mentoring to senior leaders and high-potential employees, and support the development of mentoring and buddy schemes to foster a coaching and feedback-led culture across the business.
- Lead, coach, and support the Talent Acquisition Manager and People Partner – Learning and Engagement to excel in their roles, fostering their professional growth and development.
- Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition Manager to design and deliver innovative hiring strategies, enhance our employer brand, and ensure an excellent candidate experience.
- Work with the People Partner – Learning & Engagement to shape impactful training and leadership programmes, drive a culture of continuous learning, and optimise the use of the apprenticeship levy.
- Develop and manage a comprehensive succession planning framework that builds leadership readiness and career progression pathways.
- Alongside the People Partners, oversee talent reviews and performance management processes, promote internal mobility, and use data to inform decisions and track progress.
- Work closely with leadership to identify and nurture high-potential employees for cross-functional opportunities.
- Collaborate with the People Partner – Learning & Engagement to develop and execute strategies that boost employee engagement, including surveys, feedback analysis, and action planning.
Requirements
What you’ll need:
- CIPD / HR qualification, level 7 preferred.
- Coaching qualification.
- Experience working in a senior-level HR role across talent management, succession strategies, OD, or broader people transformation – ideally within complex, evolving, or multi-site environments.
- Proven success in coaching senior leaders and managing mentoring or buddying schemes that support employee growth and retention.
- Experience leading the development and implementation of a unified EVP across multiple brands, balancing company-wide consistency with brand-specific messaging to enhance talent attraction and internal mobility.
- Skilled in employee engagement strategies, surveys, and follow-up action planning to drive culture and performance.
- Experience designing and delivering L&D programmes, including leadership development, with a focus on integrating learning technologies and evaluating effectiveness.
- The ability to engage, influence and challenge senior leaders with confidence and credibility.
- A resilient and growth-oriented mindset – able to lead through ambiguity, manage complexity and adapt quickly to change.
- A passion for building inclusive cultures – you know that diverse perspectives are not a nice-to-have, but a leadership imperative.
- Effective and supportive people manager, skilled in nurturing others’ growth, creating space for direct reports to lead while providing guidance, feedback, and development opportunities.
Company Benefits and Initiatives Include:
- 25 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays – increasing by one additional day after 6 years, up to a maximum of 30 days.
- An additional day of leave for you to take on a cultural celebration day or on your birthday if you like. A day for you! At William Reed, we call this our “MeDay”.
- A volunteer day to take for supporting a chosen charity and giving back to the community.
- Opportunity for hybrid working.
- Contributory Pension.
- Life Assurance Scheme.
- Group Income Protection.
- Enhanced family-friendly leave pay entitlements.
- Wellbeing benefits, including: A health care cash plan, Employee assistance programme, Virtual GP service and Access to health & wellbeing resources and tools.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Electric Car Scheme.
Why work for us:
We provide a supportive work environment and are committed to maintaining a healthy work/life balance for all of our employees. Working for William Reed means that you will be joining a stable organisation that is committed to developing its employees and brands. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from talented individuals of all backgrounds and characteristics. If you need any support in accessing this opportunity, please do not hesitate to discuss this with us.
Head of Talent employer: William Reed Ltd
Contact Detail:
William Reed Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with William Reed's values and culture. Understanding their commitment to diversity and inclusion will help you align your approach when discussing how you can contribute to building an inclusive workplace.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your experience in developing talent strategies that have successfully attracted and retained top-tier talent. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented these strategies in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your coaching and mentoring skills by preparing anecdotes that highlight your ability to develop senior leaders and high-potential employees. This will demonstrate your capability to foster a coaching culture within the organisation.
✨Tip Number 4
Research current trends in talent management and employee engagement. Being knowledgeable about innovative practices will allow you to propose fresh ideas that could enhance William Reed's talent ecosystem during discussions.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in talent management, coaching, and employee engagement. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and develop teams, as well as your strategic thinking in aligning talent initiatives with business goals.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building inclusive cultures and your understanding of the importance of diverse perspectives. Mention how your previous experiences align with the responsibilities of the Head of Talent role and how you can contribute to William Reed's success.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your CIPD/HR qualifications and any coaching certifications you hold. Emphasise your experience in senior-level HR roles and your proven success in developing and implementing talent strategies, as these are key requirements for the position.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: Use your application to illustrate your leadership style and how you empower others. Provide examples of how you've coached senior leaders or managed mentoring schemes, as this will resonate well with the collaborative nature of the People team at William Reed.
How to prepare for a job interview at William Reed Ltd
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to research William Reed's company culture and values. Familiarise yourself with their commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as their flexible working policies. This will help you align your responses with what they value in a candidate.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
As the Head of Talent, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to shape and implement talent strategies. Be ready to discuss your previous experiences in developing talent acquisition and employee engagement initiatives, and how these can be tailored to fit William Reed's needs.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Since the role involves coaching senior leaders and managing mentoring schemes, prepare examples of how you've successfully coached others in the past. Highlight specific outcomes that resulted from your coaching efforts to illustrate your impact.
✨Engage with Data-Driven Insights
William Reed values data-informed decision-making. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to track talent management processes and improve employee engagement. Bring examples of metrics you've used in the past to support your strategies.