Director Human Resources Cluster North in Manchester

SPEED & SPIRIT is what we look for in our candidates, defined by some simple values that inspire us to BE DRIVEN in our performance, BE VIBRANT in our sporting legacy, BE TOGETHER in our team spirit, and BE YOU to let our individual talent and experience shine. Applying for a job at PUMA is easy and all genders are welcome. Simply click APPLY ONLINE and follow the steps to upload your application.

YOUR MISSION

• Translate regional HR priorities into cluster‑specific execution plans, ensuring global and regional HR standards, policies, and Center of Excellence guidance are implemented consistently while adapting to local market and cultural nuances.
• Act as the strategic HR partner to cluster leadership teams, providing guidance on organizational structure, workforce planning, capability needs, talent deployment, and supporting budgeting & forecasting in collaboration with Finance for cluster‑level workforce planning.
• Oversee high‑quality execution of all core HR processes across the cluster, including recruitment, onboarding, performance, talent management, development, compensation and, where applicable, payroll accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure each market adheres to employment laws, works council requirements (where applicable), health & safety standards, local regulatory obligations, and the governance of HR data quality needed for legal compliance.
• Serve as the first escalation point for complex employee relations matters within the cluster, managing cases, conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and restructuring topics.
• Collaborate closely with Regional HR, functional HRBPs, and global HR teams, sharing insights from cluster markets, aligning on talent and organizational priorities, and ensuring that cluster execution supports broader strategy.
• Lead local HR teams across the cluster, strengthening HR capability, coaching HR managers, and ensuring consistent service delivery, while also overseeing HRIS usage, maintenance, and process discipline in partnership with People Tech.
• Drive cluster‑wide process improvements, harmonizing ways of working across markets, optimizing tools and workflows, and ensuring accurate HR data, system readiness, and reporting required to enable smooth daily operation.
• Responsible for approx. 600 Employees across UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

YOUR TALENT

• A college degree, preferably in business, psychology, law, or a related field.
• At least 10–15 years of professional experience in HR, as well as several years of leadership experience, ideally in an international setting.
• Ideally work experience in UK and the Nordics.
• In-depth knowledge of HR strategy, recruiting, talent management & people development, compensation & benefits, workforce planning, and labor law.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, as well as the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, particularly when interacting with executives and the works council.
• Experience in budget planning and management.
• Fluency in English.

PUMA supports over 21,000 employees across 120+ countries. The PUMA Group owns the brand PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.