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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives, improve employee engagement, and support business growth.
- Company: Dynamic automotive business with rapid growth and acquisition focus.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, strong benefits, and travel opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for ownership and visibility in a fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Shape the HR function and make a real impact in a growing environment.
- Qualifications: Proven UK HR leadership experience and strong employee relations skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Robert Half is working with a large automotive business to appoint a senior HR leader for its UK operations. This is a newly created role, reporting into an international parent business. The company is growing quickly, including through acquisition, so this is not a steady-state HR role. It needs someone who can bring structure, pace and credibility to a changing environment.
The Role
You’ll act as the senior HR lead for the UK, partnering closely with the leadership team and helping shape how HR operates as the business continues to scale. This is a broad role, covering both strategic and hands-on HR. You’ll be involved in building processes, improving employee engagement, supporting acquisition integration, advising leadership teams and developing the HR function as the business grows.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead HR activity across the UK, ensuring the business has the right people, processes and structure in place to support growth
- Partner with senior leaders on workforce planning, organisational design, employee engagement and people strategy
- Support the integration of newly acquired businesses, helping align culture, process and ways of working
- Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters, including grievances, performance and change management
- Build and develop a small HR team, with further scope to shape the function over time
- Create and improve HR policies, processes and reporting across the UK business
- Work closely with the international parent business to ensure UK HR is aligned with wider group objectives
What We’re Looking For
- A senior HR professional with proven UK HR leadership experience
- Experience working in a growing, international or acquisition-led business would be highly beneficial
- Comfortable operating in a role that is both strategic and hands-on
- Confident partnering with senior leadership teams and influencing at executive level
- Strong employee relations experience, with the ability to navigate complex situations
- Someone pragmatic, commercial and able to bring structure to a fast-moving environment
What’s on Offer
- Competitive Salary
- Bonus scheme
- Strong benefits package
- Birmingham-based role with some travel
- Opportunity to be the senior UK HR lead and genuinely shape the function
This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants ownership, visibility and the chance to build something properly within a growing UK business.
HR Director in Birmingham employer: Robert Half
Contact Detail:
Robert Half Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Director in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the HR field, especially those who have experience in fast-growing or acquisition-led businesses. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s culture and recent acquisitions. Show them you understand their challenges and how you can bring structure and credibility to their HR function. Tailor your examples to highlight your strategic and hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a quick thank-you note to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your professionalism.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you ace your job search. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you a leg up over other candidates. Let’s get you that HR Director role!
We think you need these skills to ace HR Director in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of HR Director. Highlight your experience in leading HR in fast-paced environments and any work you've done with acquisitions. We want to see how you can bring structure and credibility to our growing business!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've partnered with leadership teams and improved employee engagement in previous roles. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Strategic Mindset: In your application, emphasise your ability to think strategically while also being hands-on. We’re looking for someone who can balance both sides effectively, so make sure to highlight experiences where you've successfully navigated complex employee relations or organisational design.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Robert Half
✨Know the Business Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the automotive business and its recent acquisitions. Understand their culture, values, and how HR can support their growth. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their strategic goals.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in both strategic and hands-on HR roles. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully partnered with leadership teams in the past, particularly in fast-paced environments. This will demonstrate your ability to navigate complex situations and drive change.
✨Emphasise Employee Engagement
Think of innovative ways you've improved employee engagement in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific strategies or initiatives that have worked for you, as this is crucial for the role. Showing your passion for creating a positive workplace culture will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Anticipate questions around employee relations and change management. Prepare to discuss how you've handled grievances or performance issues in the past. This will showcase your pragmatic approach and ability to bring structure to challenging situations, which is essential for this role.