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- Tasks: Lead the evolution of people strategy in a fast-growing, ambitious business.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on scaling and investment opportunities.
- Benefits: High-impact role with potential for significant influence and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a company while maintaining its vibrant culture.
- Qualifications: Senior People leader with experience in high-growth environments.
- Other info: Join a leadership team dedicated to accelerating growth and value creation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As part of our ongoing relationship with this business, and our work on a Finance Director search, we are partnering exclusively with them again as they strengthen their executive leadership team. The People & Culture Director will professionalise the people function and position the organisation for its next phase of growth and potential investment. This is a high-impact role in a fast-growing, ambitious business where the right leader will shape the people agenda and the organisation’s capability to continue to successfully scale.
The Role
Reporting to the CEO, you will lead the evolution from a founder-led environment to a structured, performance-focused organisation, while maintaining the culture that has driven success.
- Develop and deliver a robust People strategy that aligns directly with the organisation’s growth objectives, value creation plan, and long-term commercial priorities.
- Design and implement organisational structures that enable scalability, clarify accountability, and ensure the business has the right capability in place to deliver against its strategic ambitions.
- Strengthen performance management, reward, and talent frameworks, embedding clear expectations, measurable outcomes, and consistent processes that drive accountability and high performance across the organisation.
- Lead strategic workforce planning and succession initiatives, ensuring leadership capability, talent pipelines, and critical skills are aligned to future growth requirements.
- Establish appropriate governance, compliance, and risk frameworks, enhancing operational discipline while maintaining agility in a scaling environment.
- Optimise HR process, systems, and data to ensure readiness for due diligence and ongoing investor scrutiny.
- Partner closely with the executive team to shape culture, engagement, and leadership capability, ensuring the people agenda is fully integrated into business decision-making.
What We’re Looking For:
- Senior People leader with experience in high-growth or scaling organisations, ideally with experience in, or preparing for, Private Equity or similar investment.
- Strong commercial acumen and Board-level experience.
- Skilled at professionalising founder-led companies while maintaining agility.
- Data-driven, with expertise in HR systems and metrics.
- Able to balance pace, structure, and culture, in a high-impact role requiring energy, resilience, and strategic focus.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-profile people function at a pivotal stage of growth, shaping the organisation’s people strategy and processes as the business prepares for investment. You will build scalable, professional systems that strengthen performance and culture, working alongside a leadership team focused on accelerating growth and delivering long-term value creation.
For further details or immediate consideration, please click apply or contact Gemma Quaye at Sowena Group.
People & Culture Director in Manchester employer: Sowena Group
Contact Detail:
Sowena Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Culture Director in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. We want you to align your experiences with their goals, especially in shaping people strategies. Show them you’re not just a fit on paper but a cultural match too!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to articulate your vision for the role clearly and confidently. We suggest rehearsing with friends or mentors to refine your delivery and ensure you highlight your strategic focus and commercial acumen.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can set you apart and keep you top of mind. We believe it shows your enthusiasm and professionalism, which are key in a high-impact role like this.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Culture Director in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the People & Culture Director role. Highlight your experience in high-growth environments and how you've successfully professionalised people functions before.
Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your previous roles, focus on the impact you've made. Use metrics and examples to illustrate how you've driven performance management and talent frameworks, as this will resonate well with our ambitions at StudySmarter.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we want to see your professional side, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. We value culture and engagement, so share a bit about your leadership style and how you’ve fostered a positive work environment in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and you can stay updated on your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sowena Group
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's mission, values, and recent developments. Understanding their culture and growth objectives will help you align your experience with their needs, showing that you're not just a fit for the role but also for the organisation.
✨Prepare Your Success Stories
Think of specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead in high-growth environments. Be ready to discuss how you've professionalised people functions or implemented performance management frameworks, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the company's future and your strategic thinking. Inquire about their current challenges in scaling and how they envision the People & Culture Director contributing to their growth strategy.
✨Showcase Your Data-Driven Approach
Since the role requires a data-driven mindset, be prepared to discuss how you've used HR metrics to inform decision-making in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with HR systems and how you've leveraged data to enhance organisational performance.