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- Tasks: Lead the people strategy and build a high-performance culture for a premium education platform.
- Company: Private equity-backed international schools group with ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: Opportunity to shape the future of education and work in a dynamic, multi-country environment.
- Other info: Play a foundational role in building a values-driven schools network.
- Why this job: Join at a formative stage and make a real impact on K-12 education across Europe.
- Qualifications: Experienced HR leader with a background in international education or regulated sectors.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Our client, a confidential, private equity-backed international schools group, is building a new benchmark in premium K-12 education across Europe. Backed by a leading global investor and supported by a highly prestigious British school brand, the organisation is entering a critical phase of expansion, with multiple campuses launching from 2027 and a clear ambition to scale to 10 - 15 schools across key European markets.
We are ideally seeking background in the schools and academic sector with successful schools build out experience. This is a rare opportunity to join at a formative stage and play a defining role in shaping the talent strategy and cultural foundations to support a high-growth, multi-country education platform.
The Opportunity: Reporting directly to the CEO, the HR Director will establish and lead the group’s people strategy, building the foundations required to support both initial school openings and long-term scale. This is a true “build” role - designing the organisational model, creating the HR function from first principles, and embedding the frameworks, processes and culture that will underpin a premium, values-driven schools network.
In the near term, the role will focus on supporting the successful launch of new campuses in Southern Europe, including the recruitment of founding teaching and leadership teams, while developing a repeatable and scalable model for future school openings. Working closely with senior leadership, you will ensure that talent, culture, safeguarding and organisational capability are fully aligned to the group’s growth ambitions and educational standards.
Key Accountabilities:
- Define and deliver the group-wide people strategy, organisational design and HR infrastructure
- Lead international talent acquisition, building high-quality teaching and leadership teams
- Support new school openings, ensuring organisational readiness and developing a repeatable launch model
- Embed a high-performance, values-driven culture and effective performance frameworks
- Ensure robust safeguarding, compliance and governance across multiple jurisdictions
- Partner with senior leadership to drive organisational effectiveness and growth
Profile:
- Experienced HR leader operating at Director/CPO level within international, multi-site environments
- Track record of building or scaling HR functions in high-growth or complex organisations, ideally within K12 education, or similar regulated sectors.
- Strong capability in talent, organisational design and leadership development
- Comfortable operating across jurisdictions, balancing central consistency with local requirements
- Commercially aware, hands-on and credible at senior stakeholder level
- A values-driven leader with a genuine commitment to education and organisational excellence
This is an opportunity to play a foundational role in building a premium European schools platform, shaping the people strategy, culture and leadership capability that will define its long-term success.
Human Resources Director (HR) - International Schools Group (PE-Backed) in Plymouth employer: Spencer Group
Contact Detail:
Spencer Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Human Resources Director (HR) - International Schools Group (PE-Backed) in Plymouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector and let them know you're on the hunt for an HR Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s culture and values. Since this role is all about shaping the people strategy, be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their mission in premium K-12 education.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience in building HR functions from scratch. This is a 'build' role, so highlight any past successes in establishing organisational models and frameworks that support growth in multi-site environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged in their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Human Resources Director (HR) - International Schools Group (PE-Backed) in Plymouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of HR Director. Highlight your experience in building HR functions and working in the education sector. We want to see how your background aligns with our vision for premium K-12 education.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about shaping talent strategies in education. Share specific examples of your past successes in similar roles, especially in high-growth environments.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: As an HR Director, your leadership style matters. In your application, give us a glimpse of how you build high-performance cultures and align teams with organisational goals. We’re keen to understand how you can contribute to our values-driven approach.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Spencer Group
✨Know Your Educational Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the K-12 education sector, especially in Europe. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the market and how it impacts HR strategies during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Build Experience
Prepare specific examples of your past experiences where you've successfully built or scaled HR functions. Highlight how you designed organisational models and embedded cultural frameworks, as this aligns perfectly with the role's requirements.
✨Align with Their Values
Research the organisation’s values and mission. Be ready to discuss how your leadership style and HR strategies can support a high-performance, values-driven culture, which is crucial for their ambitious growth plans.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in multi-jurisdictional environments. Think about how you would handle talent acquisition and compliance across different countries, and be ready to share your thought process.