At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform global HR operations for a dynamic workforce of over 800 professionals.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company focused on growth and innovation in HR practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with significant career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping a new culture and driving impactful change across the organisation.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in HR leadership, with experience in global organisations and transformational initiatives.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.
- Role Information
- Department: HR
- Location: Head Office, UK, Reading
- Reporting To (Line Manager): CFO
- Direct Reports (if any): 5
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Role Purpose
As the Global HR Director this role will support our global workforce of over +800 professionals through a critical period of evolution and requires a high-impact, transformational leader who can design and execute a global people strategy aimed at professionalising our HR operations for the next phase of growth.
The expectation is that this role will be the architect for implementing a new culture and values, employing best-practice performance frameworks and enabling our new target organisational design that ensures excellence across all functions.
Beyond owning the traditional HR oversight responsibilities we are looking for a commercially astute leader who can operate at pace, lead from the front, make bold decisions and turn the strategic vision into tangible results.
- Core HR Responsibilities
- Global HR Team
Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop the existing HR team to achieve best-in-class performance.
Utilise your expertise to evaluate the current function and determine the optimal structure, reporting lines, and individual responsibilities to drive efficiency.
- Global HR Oversight: Direct the daily operations of a distributed HR function, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across all international territories.
- Reward & Benefits: Manage global compensation structures, payroll alignment, and benefits packages to ensure the business remains competitive and compliant in every region.
- Talent Acquisition & Lifecycle: Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategies to attract top-tier software and managed services talent, while managing seamless onboarding and offboarding.
- Employee Relations & Compliance: Act as the final point of escalation for complex ER matters, including sensitive investigations, disciplinary matters, formal grievances and ensure the business remains fully compliant with diverse local labor laws.
- Data Integrity & Insight: Maintain the accuracy of people data and utilize HR analytics to provide the executive team with regular insights into headcount, turnover, and engagement for our monthly board reporting.
- Transformational Responsibilities
- Organizational Design: Support the management team in executing the newly designed target operating model from an HR standpoint.
- Performance
Management: Overhaul legacy appraisal systems to design and implement a high-performance culture focused on measurable outcomes, continuous feedback, and professional rigor.
- Culture & Values Integration: Lead the road map for a new culture and values, embedding them into every touchpoint of the employee experience to drive unity.
- Strategic
- Incentive
Design: Partner with the executive management team to architect and implement global bonus plans that are directly mapped to core business outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Diagnose & Professionalise processes: Audit and overhaul existing legacy processes to instill corporate best practices, moving the business from a reactive to a proactive HR model.
- Succession & Leadership Development: Identify high-potential talent and build robust succession plans to ensure the business is "growth-ready" at the leadership level.
- Future
- Policy
Redesign: Lead a comprehensive diagnostic and overhaul of all existing HR policies and processes and transform legacy frameworks into modern, scalable, and agile future-state systems.
- Retention & Turnover
Strategy: Develop and execute a data-driven global strategy to increase employee retention and significantly reduce staff turnover.
This involves diagnosing the root causes of attrition and implementing targeted initiatives - from engagement programs to enhanced career pathways - that foster long-term commitment and stability across all regions.
- Benchmarking: Establish a rigorous annual benchmarking process to evaluate our compensation and benefits packages against global industry standards.
Ensure our total reward offering remains highly competitive within the managed services and software sectors to attract and retain top-tier talent.
- Success Measures / Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Provide a 180 day plan for core responsibilities & priorities.
- Quality & accuracy of deliverables.
- Timeliness of project or task completion.
- Stakeholder / customer satisfaction levels.
- Team productivity & engagement.
- Compliance with policies and regulatory standards.
- Staff turnover rates / survey engagement and ratings.
Skills & Experience - Essential
- Executive HR Leadership: 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 5 years as a HR Director within a global organization.
- High Energy & Gravitas: Charismatic, highly motivated, and driven to operate at pace while confidently influencing board-level stakeholders
- Sector
Expertise: Proven experience within a managed services or professional services model.
Needs to understand the commercial drivers of a business where timesheets, billable hours, and utilization are core to the organizational makeup.
- Transformational
Toolkit: Track record of professionalizing HR functions with expertise across the full HR value chain, specifically in organizational design, the architecture of bonus schemes, and the execution of global talent strategies.
- Global
Footprint: Demonstrable success in a multi-region role, with specific expertise navigating the labor markets, cultural nuances, and compliance landscapes of the UK, India, and the Middle East.
- Talent
Management: Expert-level ability in designing talent acquisition strategies, leadership development programs, and internal communication frameworks that drive high employee engagement.
- Autonomy & Commercial
Ownership: Highly comfortable operating in fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and scaling environments.
Takes full ownership of the HR domain, proactively providing strategic recommendations and driving execution without the need for micro-management.
- Stakeholder
Mastery: Exceptional communication skills with the gravitas to influence board-level stakeholders and the ability to act as a commercially-minded advisor to the executive team.
- Global Mobility: Flexibility and willingness to travel regionally and globally as required to support our international offices.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of HRIS, data analytics tools, and modern HR technologies to drive evidence-based decision-making.
Skills And Experience - Desirable
- Advanced degree or professional certification.
- Experience in global territories beyond UK, India and Middle East.
- Knowledge of process improvement methodologies (e. g. Lean, Six Sigma).
- Working knowledge of Darwin Box and SAP.
- Previous experience in change consultancy organisation/environment.
- Experience leveraging AI-enabled HR operations to automate workflows and optimize analytics.
- Navigating private equity backed environments or businesses undergoing rapid growth, with a proven ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced, and chaotic landscape.
- Experience within the technology sector—ideally the SAP ecosystem—coupled with a strong understanding of offshore delivery challenges and cross-cultural alignment.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Global HR Director in Reading employer: SAP BusinessObjects
As a Global HR Director at our Head Office in Reading, UK, you will join a forward-thinking company that prioritises employee growth and development within a dynamic work culture. We offer competitive compensation packages, a commitment to professionalising HR operations, and the opportunity to lead transformative initiatives that shape our organisational values and culture. Our supportive environment encourages innovation and collaboration, making it an excellent place for impactful leaders to thrive and drive meaningful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global HR Director in Reading
✨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!
✨Make Your Presence Known
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 SAP BusinessObjects!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
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 SAP BusinessObjects.
We think you need these skills to ace Global HR Director in Reading
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 SAP BusinessObjects. 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 SAP BusinessObjects 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 SAP BusinessObjects. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to SAP BusinessObjects'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 SAP BusinessObjects
✨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 SAP BusinessObjects.
✨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 SAP BusinessObjects 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 SAP BusinessObjects and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
