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- Tasks: Shape and deliver a people strategy across 29 countries, driving growth and performance.
- Company: Join a leading consumer-focused organisation with a commitment to inclusivity and engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday plus competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovative thinking.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people strategies that empower teams and drive business success.
- Qualifications: Proven HR leadership experience in complex, multi-country environments and strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Accountable for shaping and delivering an ambitious people strategy across 29 countries, translating global direction into powerful local execution that drives commercial performance and long‑term growth. The role reports directly to the Regional Managing Director and COS People Director and sits at the heart of the European regional team, ensuring that people decisions enable strategy, strengthen organisational capability and unlock team potential across every market.
Responsibilities
- Partner with European and global business leaders to translate global people frameworks into effective, locally relevant execution that supports European strategy and growth.
- Build strong, trust‑based relationships with leaders to embed people priorities into operational and commercial decision‑making.
- Represent Europe credibly in group people forums, ensuring a strong European voice and challenging global approaches where they do not deliver for local realities.
- Create a strong EU HR community, with shared ways of working, best practice and accountability.
- Lead workforce planning and organisational design to structure the business for performance, agility and future readiness.
- Drive and support change and transformation initiatives, enabling leaders and teams to adapt to evolving business needs.
- Own succession planning and talent pipelines for critical European roles.
- Drive internal mobility and capability building, strengthening leadership depth and accountability across markets.
- Provide senior guidance on performance, development and engagement, intervening directly where impact or risk is high.
- Retain direct involvement in complex senior hires, critical leadership cases, restructures and sensitive people issues.
- Champion a values‑driven, inclusive culture that strengthens engagement, belonging and performance.
- Embed colleague experience frameworks, including Moments That Matter, to elevate engagement and retention.
- Provide senior oversight of employee relations, ensuring fair, consistent and legally sound outcomes across Europe.
Qualifications
- Proven senior HR leadership experience within a complex, multi‑country environment, ideally in a consumer‑led business.
- Demonstrated experience leading other HR leaders and building high‑performing teams and shaping capability as well as delivery.
- Strong commercial acumen with the credibility and confidence to influence Regional Managing Directors and leadership teams.
- Track record of translating strategy into practical, high‑impact people solutions that drive business performance.
- Comfortable operating at both strategic and hands‑on levels, owning critical people decisions and interventions when it matters most.
- Deep experience working within matrixed, global organisations, with the ability to navigate complexity and influence without authority.
- Strong expertise across core people priorities, including organisational design, workforce planning, succession, leadership development and employee relations.
- Calm, decisive leadership style with the judgement to manage risk, ambiguity and sensitive situations across diverse markets and cultures.
- Passion for building inclusive, values‑driven cultures that strengthen engagement, performance and long‑term talent retention.
Benefits
25 days holiday +
COS European Head of HR in London employer: BoF Careers
Contact Detail:
BoF Careers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land COS European Head of HR in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend HR events, webinars, or even local meet-ups. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Share insights on LinkedIn or write articles about HR trends. This not only showcases your knowledge but also positions you as a thought leader in the field.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s culture and values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in shaping people strategies across diverse markets.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Make sure to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace COS European Head of HR in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of European Head of HR. Highlight your experience in shaping people strategies and working across multiple countries, as this is key for us at StudySmarter.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven change and built strong relationships in previous roles, especially in complex environments.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to see your leadership style shine through in your application. Talk about how you've led teams, influenced decisions, and navigated challenges in a way that aligns with our values at StudySmarter.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at BoF Careers
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's values and people strategy. Understand how they translate global frameworks into local execution. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're ready to partner with leaders effectively.
✨Build Relationships
During the interview, focus on showcasing your ability to build trust-based relationships. Share examples of how you've embedded people priorities into decision-making in previous roles. This will highlight your capability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Be prepared to discuss how you've translated strategy into practical people solutions. Use specific examples from your experience to illustrate your commercial acumen and how you've driven performance through effective HR practices.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity
Highlight your passion for creating inclusive cultures. Discuss initiatives you've led that champion engagement and belonging. This will resonate well, as the role requires a strong commitment to values-driven leadership and employee experience.