People Director in Earley

Holroyd Howe was founded by Rick Holroyd and Nick Howe in 1997 and became part of WSH in 2007. It is the leading contract caterer in the UK working in the independent education sector and prides itself on getting to know those who they feed and becoming part of the school community. Holroyd Howe understands that good nutrition plays a significant part in the overall welfare of children and their performance and happiness and works closely with each school to understand their unique requirements so that their service is tailored appropriately.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a visionary and tenacious People Director. The People Director will report to the Holroyd Howe Managing Director with a dotted line to the WSH People & Talent Director. The People Director will be a key member of the exec team who can advise and influence colleagues on all aspects of HR and contribute directly to the delivery of the business plan. The People Director will be supported by two People Managers, two People Advisors, one People Administrator as well as an L&D team of two L&D Managers and one L&D Administrator. Key to success will be the ability to thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment and effectively collaborate with multiple stakeholders to realise the vision and to support the future success of Holroyd Howe.

Job Description

• Leadership
  • Ensures the business has a clear People strategy and plan.
  • Oversees key elements of HR such as employee relations, resourcing, learning & development, reward & recognition and safeguarding.
  • Plays a key role in the leadership team, advising and influencing business leaders and contributing directly to delivering the business plan.
  • Provides high quality leadership and management to the People Team.
  • Contributes to the wider WSH People agenda as part of the HR leadership team.
• Compliance
  • Ensures complete compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including the implementation of all such requirements in a timely manner.
  • Ensures all compliance and regulatory training is in place, delivered and reported on.
• Learning, Development and Succession
  • Manages the succession plan and talent map that enables employees at all levels to understand and access relevant career opportunities.
  • Has in place a variety of learning interventions that equip people with the tools to do their job safely and to a high standard.
  • Offers innovative and effective development programmes through a variety of channels.
• Resourcing
  • Has in place a clear resourcing plan and work with the resourcing team to ensure the business is resourced appropriately throughout.
  • Ensures the business has an effective apprenticeship offering.
• Reward and Recognition
  • Oversees the annual pay review and bonus process and ensure compliance with Remuneration Committee governance.
  • Puts in place and manages a variety of recognition tools.
• Employee Relations
  • Ensures all key people policies are in place, up to date and easily available.
  • Provides training for relevant employees to manage key processes grievance, disciplinary, absence management.
  • Reviews and improves all key processes regularly and in this respect works with People Directors within WSH.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Ensure all activities are clearly aligned with our EDI commitments.
  • Has a clear strategy and plan to achieve a truly inclusive and diverse workforce.
  • Contributes directly to WSH ESG activities.
  • Has in place measurable goals and report on these regularly.

Qualifications

• Senior management experience working in a HR Director/Head of HR capacity, including leadership of a multi-function HR team.
• Ideally previous experience in a fast paced, multi-sited, and service led business, where people and service are at the very heart of the business.
• Ideally experience in contract catering/hospitality or B2B.
• Experience of managing both remote teams and office-based teams.
• A HR generalist with experience in all aspects of HR and L&D.
• Resilient, agile and flexible with strong influencing skills at all levels as well as a tenacious and “can do” attitude.
• Experience of working in an environment where adherence to safeguarding practice is always non-negotiable.
• Flexibility to operate on a broad policy level as well as on a detailed case management basis.
• Experience of providing robust and professional advice to senior management and Board members.
• A thorough and up-to-date knowledge of employment law and good practice.
• Experience of creating and delivering value added training programmes.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to see the ‘big picture’ but be comfortable with being ‘hands-on’.
• Strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking and analysis.
• Capable of identifying and implementing ‘best practice’, including appropriate and innovative tools.
• Exceptional project management skills, able to handle multiple projects at any given time.
• Business-focused and strong commercial acumen.
• Able to achieve the commitment and consensus of the team, demonstrating a high level of credibility in the business.
• Ideally CIPD qualified or equivalent.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on: Sustainability, Nutrition, Food Innovation.

“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity, it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children, therefore we will require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding any criminal offences and shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search of public available information on suitability to work with children.”

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.