At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cultural transformation and drive innovation in a global tech environment.
- Company: Join a pioneering tech firm focused on deep tech and innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with a focus on AI and cutting-edge technology.
- Why this job: Shape the future of tech while fostering an inclusive and entrepreneurial culture.
- Qualifications: Extensive HR leadership experience and a passion for innovation and diversity.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
Strategic Mandate
The Global People Director will be a key architect of Cambridge Consultants’ transformation to inspire and lead a new era of deep tech innovation. They will be the strategic bridge between Capgemini (our parent company) and CC. They will steer the cultural, talent, and organisational transformations to enable the company to:
- Build an entrepreneurial, innovation‑driven culture where teams embrace calculated risk, experimentation, and rapid learning.
- Shape an AI‑native organisation, equipping all employees with the mindset and fluency to leverage the latest AI tools.
- Create a diverse leadership pipeline and talent engine that strengthens innovation, client partnership, and global reach.
- Operationalise the cultural and behavioural expectations of our strategy through hiring, development, reward, leadership capabilities, and organisational design.
About the Role
You will act as a strategic partner to the executive team and senior leadership, linking the people agenda to our strategy. Driving transformational change in our People & Culture, to build a diverse talent engine tuned to innovation & partnership. At the core of this role is shaping an entrepreneurial culture where people run toward bold innovation challenges - and build a diverse, high-performing talent engine that enables it. You’ll lead the Global People function, set direction for HR Business Partnering, Talent, L&D, EDI, and People Operations, and ensure integrated delivery across the employee lifecycle. You’ll be a critical partner to the executive, offering courageous challenge and clear thinking to align decisions with company goals.
Work pattern: Hybrid – role holder expected in office frequently & some international travel
Reports to: CHRO, Capgemini Invent with dotted line to Cambridge Consultants CEO
Direct Reports: 4 – HR Business Partnering, HR Ops, L&D, Recruitment
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Partnership & Organisational Leadership
- Lead the Global People Team, managing the Heads of Functions to deliver the Global People Strategy.
- Partner with the executive team and senior leaders to translate business strategy into clear, outcome-based people plans that accelerate growth and innovation.
- Shape the Executive Leadership Team as a cohesive team - improving decision quality, collaboration, and strategic alignment.
- Lead org design and workforce planning (structure, capability, location strategy) for present and future needs in a global matrixed environment.
- Culture, Engagement & Internal Communications
- Champion a more entrepreneurial, experimentation-driven culture; reinforce psychological safety, ownership, and speed of learning.
- Build and sustain high employee engagement; craft compelling narratives and communications that bring strategy to life.
- Embed established feedback loops (listening strategy, pulse surveys) and turn insights into visible action.
- Champion organisational simplification to improve pace, autonomy, and agility.
- Talent Strategy & Leadership Development
- Lead the development of a future skills blueprint, incl. deep tech, commercial partnering, and AI-native capabilities.
- Build a diverse talent engine across succession and mobility; ensure equitable access to opportunities globally.
- Lead performance and career development frameworks that enable growth, accountability, and retention.
- Oversee design of leadership development pathways and manager capability uplift to scale consistent, inclusive leadership behaviours across regions.
- EDI / Inclusive Futures
- Own the EDI strategy (policy, governance, targets and reporting) aligned to local regulations and global best practice, to increase representation of diverse talent at senior and technical leadership levels with measurable targets.
- Embed inclusive hiring and progression.
- Change & Transformation
- Lead end-to-end change and transformation programs (org design, process reengineering) to become an AI-native, innovation-centric, client partnership organisation, whilst ensuring business continuity and employee experience.
- Establish change methodologies, leader readiness, and change success metrics; coach leaders to role model change.
- Continuous improvement of the Global People Team and strategy – building capabilities and optimising process.
- Employer Brand & Marketing Partnership
- Strengthen our Employer Value Proposition (EVP) to position CC as the global destination for exceptional deep tech and innovation talent and ensure its authentically reflected in the employee experience.
- Partner with Marketing to elevate employer branding.
- People Analytics & Decision Support
- Leverage HR analytics to diagnose business health (engagement, attrition, performance, diversity), forecast workforce needs, and inform decisions.
- Build a data-driven culture within HR; improving people systems and data capture.
- HR Solutions Delivery & Governance
- Ensure integrated delivery across Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partnering, People Operations, L&D, Reward, and EDI.
- Maintain high standards of compliance (employment law, data privacy), operational excellence, and scalable HR processes suitable for global growth.
Requirements & Qualifications
Experience
- Substantial HR leadership experience with a proven track record operating at Director level (or equivalent) in a global, matrixed organisation.
- Demonstrated success in strategic people leadership, culture building, and enterprise-level transformation.
- Experience leading cultural transformation in a technology, innovation, or consulting environment.
- Prior success in building AI-native or data-driven organisations is strongly preferred.
- Proven delivery across talent management, performance, engagement, org design, and EDI.
Skills & Capabilities
- Strategic operator who links people plans to business outcomes.
- Change leadership: design and deliver change; coach leaders through ambiguity.
- Understand innovation culture, and high-performance technical teams.
- Influence & challenge: a critical partner driving alignment of senior leaders; courageous, commercially grounded, and solutions oriented.
- EVP: partner with Marketing to position Cambridge Consultants as a destination for diverse, innovative talent.
- Inspirational people leader who unites and elevates a people function.
- Deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and belonging; credible on modern EDI practices and reporting.
Global People & Culture Director employer: Cambridge Consultants
Cambridge Consultants is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Cambridge. Employees benefit from a hybrid working model, competitive remuneration, and opportunities for professional growth within a diverse team dedicated to advancing technology in Defence and Security sectors. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on meaningful projects, this role provides a unique chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global People & Culture Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Understand how they align with your own. When you walk into that interview, show them you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their team too. Bring your A-game and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their innovative culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your experiences in a way that highlights your strategic thinking and leadership skills. Remember, confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for their team.
We think you need these skills to ace Global People & Culture Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Global People & Culture Director role. Highlight your strategic leadership experience and how it connects to driving cultural transformation.
Showcase Your Impact:When detailing your past roles, focus on the impact you've made in previous organisations. Use metrics and examples to illustrate how you've successfully led change, built diverse teams, or enhanced employee engagement.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity, so don’t hesitate to share your passion for innovation and culture-building. This is your chance to show us what makes you unique!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Consultants
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Cambridge Consultants and Capgemini. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This knowledge will help you connect your experience to their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
As a Global People & Culture Director, you'll need to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've linked people strategies to business outcomes in the past. Be ready to discuss how you would approach cultural transformation and talent development in a tech-driven environment.
✨Emphasise Your Change Leadership Skills
This role requires strong change leadership capabilities. Share specific instances where you've successfully led organisational change or transformation initiatives. Highlight your ability to coach leaders through ambiguity and foster an entrepreneurial culture.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your leadership style and approach to diversity and inclusion. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. Be ready to discuss how you've built diverse teams and fostered an inclusive environment in previous roles.
