Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive performance and capability across a fast-growing business in the built environment.
- Company: Dynamic, entrepreneurial company generating over £500mn revenue with a strong local management focus.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus potential, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Shape a modern people agenda and make a lasting impact in a growing organisation.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial HR roles, comfortable at senior leadership level.
- Other info: Collaborative, hands-on role within a small, high-impact HR team.
The predicted salary is between 130000 - 150000 £ per year.
Location: South East, England (M3/M4 Corridor, with travel to other locations)
Salary: £130,000 - £150,000 + Car + Bonus (30-50%) + Benefits
We are partnering with a highly entrepreneurial, fast-growing business operating within the built environment. The business generates £500mn+ revenue, employs just under 1,000 people, and operates through c40 operating companies across the UK. The culture is commercial, sales-driven and delivery-focused, with deliberately lean central functions and a strong emphasis on empowering local management teams.
The Role
- Reporting into the Group CEO and working alongside the SLT, the Group HR Director will play a pivotal role in driving performance, consistency and capability across the group.
- Lead on employee relations and performance management for senior leadership and executive teams, remaining hands-on where required.
- Partner closely with the CEO and CFO to drive organisational performance and commercial outcomes.
- Provide pragmatic and commercial HR input into acquisitions (typically £5m–£50m turnover businesses with headcounts under 100).
- Review, harmonise and develop senior management and executive remuneration frameworks aligned to group strategy.
- Identify and deliver people efficiencies, particularly around duplicated back-office functions.
- Lead and contribute within a small HR team of fewer than five people.
The Person
- Resilient, pragmatic and hardworking, with the credibility to operate at senior and board level.
- Comfortable moving between strategic leadership and operational detail.
- Able to build strong relationships in environments where group functions must earn trust and credibility.
- Experience within commercial, performance-driven organisations; exposure to listed or small-cap / FTSE environments is advantageous.
- Suitable candidates are likely, during their careers, to have experience working in very commercial, multi-sited operations – for example; retail, logistics, construction, engineering, maintenance or wider built environment.
- A strong Senior HR Manager or Head of HR ready to step into a first HR Director role, or an HR Director from a similarly lean structure (open to rolling their sleeves up as the job dictates).
- Collaborative, hands-on team player suited to a small, high-impact HR function.
Why This Role?
- Opportunity to shape and embed a modern, high-impact people agenda across a diverse group.
- Influence leadership development, succession planning and early careers including graduate and apprenticeship programmes.
- Work closely with a highly engaged senior leadership team.
- Make a visible and lasting impact within a growing, acquisitive organisation.
Group Human Resources Director in Reading employer: The McLean Partnership
Contact Detail:
The McLean Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Human Resources Director in Reading
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at companies you’re interested in. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Ace the Informational Interview
If you can, set up informal chats with professionals in HR or related fields. This isn’t just about asking for a job; it’s about learning from their experiences and getting insider tips on what the company values. Plus, it shows your genuine interest!
✨Showcase Your Skills
When you get the chance to meet potential employers, be ready to talk about your achievements and how they relate to the role. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to drive performance and manage teams effectively. We want to see that you can deliver results!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and really keen on joining our team. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Human Resources Director in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in commercial, performance-driven environments and any relevant HR achievements that align with our needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your understanding of our culture and how your skills can drive performance and capability across the group. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Hands-On Experience: We love candidates who are ready to roll up their sleeves! Share examples of when you've been hands-on in HR roles, especially in lean structures. This will show us you're a collaborative team player.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The McLean Partnership
✨Know the Business Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company’s background, values, and recent developments. Understand their operations within the built environment and how they generate revenue. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and ability to contribute to their commercial, sales-driven culture.
✨Showcase Your Strategic and Operational Balance
Be prepared to discuss how you can seamlessly transition between strategic leadership and operational detail. Share specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed both aspects, especially in performance-driven environments. This will highlight your suitability for a role that demands versatility.
✨Build Relationships with Key Stakeholders
Emphasise your ability to build strong relationships, particularly with senior leadership teams. Prepare anecdotes that illustrate how you've earned trust and credibility in previous roles. This is crucial for a position that requires close collaboration with the CEO and CFO.
✨Demonstrate Hands-On Leadership
Since the role involves leading a small HR team and being hands-on, be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you’ve rolled up your sleeves in past positions. Highlight your experience in driving people efficiencies and managing employee relations, as this aligns perfectly with the expectations of the Group HR Director role.
