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- Tasks: Lead the People & Culture strategy and drive organisational change.
- Company: Established manufacturing organisation with global backing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, health benefits, and flexible working hours.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on people strategy and culture at an executive level.
- Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or equivalent, strong HR experience, and strategic mindset.
- Other info: High-impact leadership role with opportunities for growth and influence.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: East Kent / Office-Based / Occasional Travel
Employment type: Permanent, Full-time
Salary: £65,000 - £80,000 DOE
Are you already at People Director level and looking for your next challenge? Or, are you a senior HR Business Partner or Head of HR, ready to step into your first HR Director role and shape people strategy at the Executive board level? Do you thrive in operational (manufacturing) environments where culture, capability, sustainable growth and workforce transformation really matter?
Sirius Search is partnering with a well-established manufacturing organisation based in East Kent, which forms part of an international group, to appoint a People & Culture Director. This is a pivotal, senior leadership role, reporting directly into the Managing Director and managing a small HR team. The role plays a critical part in aligning local people strategy with wider group priorities, while ensuring a strong, values-led culture at site level.
As People & Culture Director, you will take full ownership of the people agenda, designing and delivering a future-focused people strategy aligned to long-term business objectives. You will act as a trusted adviser to the leadership team, providing strategic insight across workforce planning, organisational capability, succession, leadership development and cultural transformation.
Key areas of focus will include:
- Designing and leading the organisation’s People & Culture strategy
- Advising the Leadership Team on all people-related matters, using data and insight to influence decision-making
- Long-term workforce planning aligned to future skills and business needs
- Building and embedding succession planning and internal leadership pipelines
- Championing a high-performance, inclusive and values-led culture
- Leading organisational change through people-centred approaches
- Using people analytics to identify trends, risks and opportunities
- Acting as an external ambassador for the business and employer brand
- Developing effective and constructive relationships within a unionised environment
- Providing strategic oversight of talent, reward, engagement, wellbeing and DEI
- Ensuring strong governance, compliance and ethical people practices
- Coaching and supporting senior leaders to enable strong people management
About you
This opportunity will suit either an established People & Culture Director or a senior HR professional ready to step into their first Director-level role. You are likely to bring:
- CIPD Level 5 (minimum) or equivalent professional qualification
- Strong employment law knowledge
- Experience operating in a complex, operational or industrial environment
- A proven ability to influence at board and executive level
- Demonstrable experience working within a unionised setting
- Expertise in organisational design, culture shaping and workforce strategy
- A commercial, strategic mindset with high emotional intelligence
- Confidence using people data and analytics to drive decisions
- A collaborative, credible and values-led leadership style
Why this role?
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity within a globally backed organisation, offering the chance to shape people strategy locally while contributing to wider group objectives. You’ll have genuine influence, visibility and the scope to make a meaningful, long-term impact.
Benefits:
- 25 days holiday + BH
- Bupa Medicash
- EAP
- Discretionary bonus up to 10%
- Working hours 9am to 5pm with some flex required
If you believe you can bring meaningful impact to this People & Culture Director role, send your CV to Cressida Courtney or apply online today. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to every applicant individually. Please know that we carefully review each application and will reach out if your qualifications align with the vacancy.
People and Culture Director in Canterbury employer: Sirius-search
Contact Detail:
Sirius-search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People and Culture Director in Canterbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a People & Culture Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company culture and values. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in areas like workforce transformation and cultural shaping. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email 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! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to make a meaningful impact in the People & Culture space.
We think you need these skills to ace People and Culture Director in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the People & Culture Director role. Highlight your experience in shaping people strategy and any relevant achievements that align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, let us know about your leadership style and how you've influenced teams in the past. We’re looking for someone who can champion a high-performance culture, so share examples of how you've done this before.
Use Data to Your Advantage: Since the role involves using people analytics, don’t shy away from mentioning your experience with data-driven decision-making. We love seeing candidates who can leverage insights to drive people strategies effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sirius-search
✨Know Your People Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's current people strategy and culture. Understand their values and how they align with your vision. Be ready to discuss how you can enhance their existing framework and bring innovative ideas to the table.
✨Showcase Your Data Savvy
Since this role involves using people analytics, prepare examples of how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles. Bring specific metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your ability to drive change through data-driven insights.
✨Prepare for Cultural Conversations
Expect questions about fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture. Think of scenarios where you've successfully led cultural transformations or navigated challenges in a unionised environment. Be ready to share your approach to building relationships and trust within teams.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Influence
As a potential advisor to the leadership team, be prepared to discuss your experience influencing at the executive level. Share stories that highlight your strategic mindset and emotional intelligence, showcasing how you've effectively managed change and developed leaders in your past roles.
