At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the People agenda, driving cultural change and engagement.
- Company: Matalan is a dynamic retail company focused on innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% staff discount, wellbeing support, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Apply early as the position may close before the deadline due to high demand.
- Why this job: Join a vibrant team committed to empowerment, culture, and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Significant HR leadership experience in retail; CIPD qualification preferred.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\'s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
About Matalan
From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.
We know as a team, we are stronger together - we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.
We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don\'t hesitate to let us know.
In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.
About the role
We are seeking to recruit a strategic, commercially astute and engaging Director of People, to shape, lead and deliver the People agenda driving cultural change as we continue to grow, transform and modernise Matalan. Creating an engaging place to work, where colleagues feel trusted, empowered and can thrive, contributing to delivering a sustainable growing business is paramount to this role.
With a workforce of over 10,000+ colleagues across retail, distribution, and central functions, this role is critical in driving the cultural and organisational changes needed to build a modern, adaptable, high-performing business.
Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer and being an active member of the senior leadership collective, you\'ll lead a connected, engaged and commercially driven team that delivers best-in-class business partnering, organisational design, talent acquisition, talent development and DE&I initiatives. You will also play a visible role within the business, shaping people priorities that enable long-term commercial success.
Key Responsibilities
People Strategy & Transformation
- Lead the execution of the People Strategy, aligning it with our people and business transformation roadmap and commercial growth ambitions.
- Drive change initiatives that embed new ways of working, enhance leadership capability and elevate performance culture across all levels.
- Act as a senior advisor and thought partner to the CPO, CEO, and Executive Leadership team.
Culture and Strategy
- Champion of cultural change, being both a role model and coach to successfully achieve the strategy ambition for culture.
- Ambassador of Matalan\'s purpose and values that underpin the culture.
- Delivers tools and initiatives that underpins cultural change and accelerates business performance.
Business Partnering
- Lead a strong People Partnering team that works hand-in-hand with business leaders to solve problems, deliver change, and enable performance.
- Build commercial credibility and ensure the People Team is seen as a trusted partner in achieving business goals.
- Work with other areas of the People Team to maximise specialist knowledge and lead a collective high performing People Team.
- Builds strong engagement with all stake holders that collaborates and delivers initiatives that builds trust and drives cultural change.
Organisational Design & Workforce Planning
- Shape the organisational design to support a more adaptable, customer-centric and omni channel operating model.
- Develop a fit for the future capability framework that ensures all capabilities are either developed or acquired for the future.
- Lead strategic workforce planning to ensure the right structures, roles, and capabilities are in place to support future growth.
- Create an effective organisational design that drives efficiency and performance.
- Shapes the cadence and ways of working across the business to develop accountability, empowerment and decision making.
Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand
- Oversee the recruitment strategy to attract top talent across stores, distribution, and support functions.
- Champions a brand of choice and creates a best in class candidate experience.
- Delivers a frictionless and automated, efficient processes that improves efficiency and experience.
- Creates a talent acquisition team that develops direct relationships with candidates and is a critical partner of the hiring manager.
- Position the business as an employer of choice, with a strong EVP that reflects our values, culture, and transformation journey.
Talent Development
- Develop and implement a talent development strategy that grows our internal pipeline, builds future-fit skills, and enhances leadership depth.
- Embed consistent, high-impact development programmes across all levels, with a focus on frontline-to-leadership progression.
- Develop a learning offer that covers all areas of the business and is linked to the performance and cultural ambition.
- Create a strong emerging talent strategy that builds a pipeline of capability, builds strong external partnerships and utilises the apprenticeship levy to its full potential.
- Build strong succession plans for C-2
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB)
- Develop, deliver and lead the EDIB (Unity) strategy and ensure it is embedded in everything we do - the guardian of promoting inclusion and belonging from hiring to development, reward, and culture.
- Use data and insight to track progress, identify gaps, and create meaningful change that reflects and supports our diverse workforce.
Culture, Engagement & Colleague Experience
- Drive initiatives and tools that support a positive, inclusive, high-performance culture through periods of change.
- Lead the development and delivery of our engagement strategy, using colleague insight to inform continuous improvement.
- Remain focused on delivery of a culture of empowerment and performance, utilising tools and frameworks available and improving the environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver on their role.
Leadership & Team Integration
- Key role in leading a unified People Team, ensuring close collaboration across specialisms and a \"one team\" culture.
- Coach, mentor, and inspire the leadership team to deliver excellence and drive outcomes that matter to colleagues and the business.
About You
- Significant senior People/HR leadership experience, ideally in large, complex, multi-site retail or consumer environments.
- Proven track record of delivering people transformation and culture change in turnaround/growth contexts.
- Deep expertise in organisational design, workforce planning, talent, and EDIB.
- Strong leadership presence and the ability to influence at all levels including Board.
- Highly commercial, insight-led, and focused on delivering measurable impact.
- Inspirational leader of people and teams, with a highly collaborative and courageous style.
- Energetic and relentless approach to driving a positive One Team attitude across the People Team and Leadership Collective.
- CIPD qualified desirable.
Benefits
In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:
- 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
- Thrive Recognition Scheme
- Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
- Life Assurance
- Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
- Pension Scheme
- Access to a wide range of career development
- Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business
Banner 2
2
Director of People in Liverpool employer: Matalan
Matalan is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, empowering over 10,000 colleagues to thrive in their roles. With a strong focus on employee growth, Matalan offers extensive career development opportunities, competitive benefits including a generous staff discount and wellbeing support, and a commitment to cultural change that champions diversity and inclusion. Located in a dynamic retail environment, Matalan provides a unique chance to be part of a transformative journey, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of People in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Matalan's culture and values. Understanding their commitment to inclusivity and employee empowerment will help you align your approach during interviews, showcasing how your leadership style complements their ethos.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Matalan to gain insights into the company’s internal dynamics. This can provide you with valuable information on what they value in a Director of People and help you tailor your discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven cultural change and transformation in previous roles. Matalan is looking for someone who can demonstrate a proven track record in these areas, so be ready to share impactful stories.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current trends in HR, particularly around talent acquisition and diversity initiatives. Being knowledgeable about the latest practices will position you as a forward-thinking candidate who can contribute to Matalan's growth and transformation.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of People in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role:Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Director of People position at Matalan. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not only introduce yourself but also demonstrate your passion for Matalan's culture and values. Discuss specific experiences that showcase your ability to drive cultural change and lead people strategies effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience:In your CV, focus on your significant senior People/HR leadership experience. Use quantifiable achievements to illustrate your track record in delivering people transformation and culture change, especially in retail or consumer environments.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:Matalan is looking for an inspirational leader. In your application, describe your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully influenced teams and driven outcomes in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Matalan
✨Understand Matalan's Culture
Before the interview, take some time to research Matalan's values and culture. They emphasise inclusivity and teamwork, so be prepared to discuss how your leadership style aligns with these principles and how you can contribute to a positive workplace environment.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
As a Director of People, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to shape and execute a people strategy. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led cultural change and transformation in previous roles, highlighting measurable outcomes.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to drive change. Prepare scenarios where you've tackled challenges related to organisational design, talent acquisition, or employee engagement, and explain your thought process and results.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Influence
Matalan values strong partnerships across teams. Be prepared to discuss how you've built relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, and how you've influenced decisions that align with business goals and enhance company culture.
