At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Talent & Culture agenda, shaping a high-performing organisation.
- Company: Join pladis, a diverse and innovative company focused on happiness.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team driving positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on talent development and organisational effectiveness.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership and HR expertise with a focus on inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Head of Talent & Culture leads the UK&I Talent, Culture and Organisation Effectiveness agenda, ensuring the organisation has the leadership capability, succession strength and culture required to deliver current priorities and future growth. The role acts as the regional owner of talent, learning, performance and inclusion, setting direction, standards and governance, while enabling HRBPs and leaders to deliver impact within the business.
Direct reports & team scope:
- Leads a specialist UK&I team and partners closely with HRBPs and functional leaders.
- Head of Learning
- Talent & Engagement Co-ordinator
- Sustainability Manager (IDE/Wellbeing/Happy People)
- Talent Acquisition Manager
- Talent Manager
What will this role achieve?
- Shape and deliver an integrated UK&I Talent, Culture and Organisation Effectiveness agenda that enables delivery of regional strategic priorities across all business areas.
- Build and execute a 3–5 year talent roadmap, balancing short-term delivery with long-term capability, leadership and workforce needs.
- Create the conditions for a high-performing, engaging organisation, with clear accountabilities, effective decision-making, strong leadership capability and a compelling employee experience that supports future growth.
- Embed a clear, intentional culture aligned to pladis values, leadership expectations and ways of working, ensuring culture is reinforced through talent, reward, performance and leadership practices.
What will be your key deliverables?
- Lead the development and execution of the UK&I Talent, Organisation Effectiveness, Learning and Inclusion strategy, ensuring alignment with regional priorities and business plans.
- Create and own the region’s integrated talent, learning and organisation effectiveness roadmap and calendar, fully aligned to the global strategy.
- Partner with HRBPs to identify priority people risks and opportunities, agree clear actions following key cycles (e.g. engagement, talent, performance), and track progress through an agreed governance rhythm.
- Responsible for Talent Management, Resourcing, Performance Management, Inclusion and Learning, ensuring these levers work together coherently to elevate our EVP internally and externally.
- Ensure consistent people, talent and organisation design practices are used across the region by working collaboratively with the HRLT and HRBPs.
- Collaborate on the development of new global and regional Talent programmes, ensuring they are grounded in the realities of the UK&I operating model, workforce profile and growth ambitions.
- Drive best practice and continuous improvement across all specialist areas, ensuring we are modernising our organisation design, talent and capability approaches to support strategic aims.
- Drive the implementation of our IDE agenda through all Talent, L&D and Organisation Design practices, embedding inclusion into structures, decision-making and career pathways.
- Accountable for shaping and delivering the Early Careers strategy, covering apprentices, graduates and internship programmes, ensuring these pipelines are aligned to future organisation design, capability and workforce needs.
- Partner with HRLT to define, reinforce and role-model cultural expectations, ensuring alignment between leadership behaviour, organisation design and colleague experience.
What success looks like:
- Strong succession coverage, talent pipelines and bench strength for critical and leadership roles, aligned to future operating model needs and resilient to planned and unplanned change.
- Improved leadership capability, engagement and employee experience outcomes year on year.
- UK&I Leadership Team confidence in talent readiness, succession depth and organisational resilience, reflected in decision-making quality, pace and risk mitigation.
- A modern, integrated talent, learning and resourcing ecosystem that supports productivity, performance and growth.
- Robust, well-governed talent review and succession processes, with clear links between leadership capability, critical roles, organisation design and future workforce needs.
The role has regional accountability for the following, delivered through specialist teams and in close partnership with HRBPs:
- Resourcing & Workforce Planning: Own the regional resourcing strategy, workforce planning and future capability needs, including leadership of the Talent Acquisition team, market insight, role design challenge and EVP activation.
- Performance Management: Design and embed a high-quality performance management culture aligned to the Global Talent Philosophy, reinforcing accountability, role clarity and effective decision-making.
- Talent & Organisation Insight: Use integrated people and organisation data to inform UK&I LT decisions on organisation design, succession, capability and workforce planning, bringing external insight and best practice where relevant.
- Learning & Development: Set and lead the regional L&D strategy to build leadership, functional and future-focused capabilities, supported by a modern, digital learning environment and a strong culture of continuous learning and adaptability.
What do you need for this role?
- Strong influencing capability with senior leaders and HR partners, with the ability to shape thinking and build alignment.
- Proven expertise across the talent lifecycle including behavioural frameworks, learning and development, career architecture, workforce planning and recruitment.
- Ability to balance operational delivery with long term organisation and capability strategy, ensuring annual employee cycles run effectively while building for the future.
- Strong understanding of core HR and organisation levers, performance, reward, development, structure and role clarity, and how they interact to drive engagement and outcomes.
- Track record of delivering in complex, fast paced environments, leading organisation and talent change across diverse workforce groups.
- Strong programme and portfolio management skills, managing interconnected talent and learning initiatives.
- Ability to set and measure performance outcomes using clear standards, metrics and targets to drive excellence in Talent.
- Commercial, data driven mindset, using insight and judgement to propose pragmatic talent solutions.
- Relevant technical background, ideally including experience with psychometrics, coaching frameworks, organisation design, budget ownership and leadership across multiple teams.
OUR WINNING TRAITS AND BEHAVIOURS:
- Purpose-Led - Energised by our promise to deliver happiness to the world with every bite.
- Agile - Ever evolving, never satisfied and never standing still.
- Collaborative - Willing to work with others for mutual success.
- Resilient - Quick to adapt to change, fast learner and persistent in the face of setbacks.
- Positive - Self-motivated, optimistic and inspiring.
Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do and is reflected across our business. pladis brings together brands and people from around the globe – and this diversity is our great strength. We’re an equal opportunities employer and believe in fostering an inclusive environment where we celebrate diversity of thinking and respect everyone’s distinctive qualities and perspectives. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
Head of Talent & Culture in London employer: pladis Global
At pladis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. As the Head of Talent & Culture, you will lead a dedicated team in shaping a dynamic talent strategy that aligns with our core values, ensuring a compelling employee experience while driving organisational effectiveness. With a commitment to diversity and continuous improvement, we offer a supportive environment where your contributions will directly impact our mission to deliver happiness to the world with every bite.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent & Culture in London
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
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Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at pladis Global!
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Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at pladis Global.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent & Culture in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at pladis Global. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to pladis Global and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at pladis Global. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to pladis Global's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at pladis Global
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with pladis Global.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at pladis Global will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact pladis Global and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
