At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of the People function into a high-performing business enabler.
- Company: Join a respected professional services firm with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and significant career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Work closely with executive leadership and influence key business outcomes.
- Why this job: Shape a transformative People agenda and drive organisational change at a strategic level.
- Qualifications: Extensive HR leadership experience in professional services and strong commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 € per year.
Our client is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Director of People to lead the continued transformation of its People function into a high-performing, strategically aligned business enabler. Reporting directly to the COO and working closely with the executive leadership team, this role will play a critical part in delivering the organisation’s long-term growth ambitions, operational excellence, and high-performance culture. This is a senior leadership opportunity suited to an experienced HR executive with a strong background in professional services, organisational transformation, talent strategy, and operational modernisation. The successful candidate will lead a multi-disciplinary People function and help shape a future-focused, data-driven, and commercially aligned people strategy. The role can be based in any UK office location operated by our client, with hybrid working available.
Responsibilities
- Strategic People Leadership
- Develop and implement a commercially focused people strategy aligned to the organisation’s long-term business objectives.
- Position the People function as a strategic business partner that drives performance, profitability, workforce optimisation, and future capability.
- Lead cultural transformation initiatives focused on supportive high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with senior leadership to advise on organisational change, workforce strategy, and people-related business initiatives.
- Support leadership processes relating to senior stakeholder and partner frameworks, including remuneration and governance procedures.
- Operational Excellence & HR Transformation
- Lead the modernisation and digital transformation of the People function through streamlined and scalable processes.
- Oversee optimisation of HR operations, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and high-quality service delivery.
- Drive HR systems transformation, including preparation for the implementation of a new HRIS platform.
- Establish robust people analytics, reporting capability, and governance frameworks to improve decision-making.
- Ensure employee lifecycle processes are modern, efficient, and technology-enabled.
- Talent, Performance & Workforce Planning
- Lead and embed performance management frameworks aligned to organisational objectives and reward structures.
- Drive succession planning, leadership development, and workforce planning strategies to support sustainable growth.
- Oversee talent acquisition and emerging talent programmes, including graduate, apprenticeship, and early careers initiatives.
- Define future skills requirements and support programmes focused on leadership capability, digital transformation, and AI-enabled working.
- Strengthen employer branding and employee value proposition initiatives to attract and retain high-performing talent.
- Culture, Engagement & Inclusion
- Ensure all people services deliver a consistent and positive employee experience.
- Strengthen onboarding, development, engagement, and retention initiatives.
- Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing strategies across the organisation.
- Support the development of employee engagement and people experience programmes.
- Lead benchmarking activity across reward, talent, and workforce models to maintain market competitiveness.
- Reward & Commercial Performance
- Lead the development and enhancement of reward frameworks, benefits strategies, and performance-linked incentives.
- Ensure people initiatives demonstrate measurable business value and return on investment.
- Embed commercial awareness across leadership teams, linking people decisions to business outcomes and profitability.
- Provide financial oversight for the People function, including budgeting, forecasting, and risk management.
- Leadership of the People Function
- Provide visible and inspirational leadership to the wider People team.
- Develop and coach senior HR leaders to build a collaborative and high-performing function.
- Drive organisational design, role clarity, and continuous improvement initiatives within the People directorate.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and proactive business partnering.
Requirements
- Significant senior HR leadership experience within professional services, partnership structures, or complex multi-site organisations.
- Proven experience delivering HR operational transformation and process improvement programmes.
- Demonstrated success embedding high-performance cultures and driving organisational change.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to connect people strategy to financial performance and business growth.
- Experience leveraging HR analytics and data-led decision-making.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with experience influencing executive leadership teams.
- Deep understanding of talent management, workforce planning, organisational development, and leadership capability frameworks.
- Experience leading international People functions during periods of organisational transformation.
- Experience managing or overseeing partner remuneration frameworks.
- Previous HRIS implementation or transformation experience.
- Background within legal or wider professional services environments.
- CIPD qualification or equivalent professional accreditation.
Skills & Behaviours
- Commercially minded with strong financial awareness.
- Operationally focused with a passion for process improvement and scalable delivery.
- Data and technology oriented with strong HR systems capability.
- Confident change leader with strong influencing skills.
- High emotional intelligence and credibility across all levels.
- Strategic thinker with a hands-on leadership approach.
- Outcome-driven with a focus on measurable improvement.
Competitive salary package. Hybrid working arrangements. Opportunity to shape and lead a transformative People agenda within a highly respected professional services environment. Significant strategic exposure working alongside executive leadership. Long-term career growth and leadership impact opportunities. Our client is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process where required.
Senior Director Human Resources employer: DiverseJobsMatter
Our client is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that prioritises employee growth and development. With hybrid working options and a commitment to fostering a high-performance culture, employees are empowered to lead transformative initiatives within a respected professional services setting. The opportunity for strategic exposure alongside executive leadership ensures that team members can make a significant impact on the organisation's long-term success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director Human Resources
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s culture and values. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around transformation and high-performance cultures.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Be proactive and reach out directly to companies you admire. Express your interest in potential roles and share how you can contribute to their people strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website to apply for roles. We’ve got a range of opportunities that align with your skills in HR leadership and transformation. Plus, it’s a great way to get noticed by hiring managers!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director Human Resources
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in HR leadership and transformation. We want to see how your skills align with the role's requirements, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Strategic Mindset:In your written application, emphasise your ability to connect people strategy with business outcomes. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically, so share examples of how you've driven performance and profitability in previous roles.
Be Authentic and Engaging:Let your personality shine through in your application! We appreciate authenticity, so don’t be afraid to express your passion for HR and how you envision contributing to our client’s culture and values.
Apply Through Our Website:For a smooth application process, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at DiverseJobsMatter
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's values and recent initiatives. Understand their current people strategy and how it aligns with their long-term goals. This will help you demonstrate your commercial focus and strategic thinking during the conversation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully led HR transformations in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to drive cultural change and operational excellence, as this role requires a strong leader who can inspire and motivate teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges related to talent management or organisational change. Prepare scenarios from your experience where you’ve made a measurable impact, showcasing your data-driven decision-making and commercial acumen.
✨Engage with the Executive Team
Since you'll be working closely with the executive leadership team, think about how you can engage them in discussions about workforce optimisation and performance. Prepare insightful questions that reflect your understanding of their business objectives and how HR can support them.
