Director of Human Resources

NORTH EAST (Ref 699) Permanent

£75K - £85k + excellent pension + other amazing benefits!

We are delighted to partner with our client, a North East business, to recruit a Director of Human Resources. This is a pivotal moment to join, with ambitious growth plans and the chance to shape and enhance the HR function, driving significant value and impact.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Develop the People Strategy in alignment with organisational priorities
• Embed and enhance culture and values across the business as it grows
• Collaborate with leaders to develop and deliver innovative people strategies that strengthen leadership, improve staff retention, enhance employee engagement, and create an integrated workforce scenario plan to support the strategic aims and respond flexibly to changing market demands
• Identify HR and resourcing priorities and recommend people and change management solutions
• Lead on the resolution of complex, sensitive, or high-impact HR matters
• Plan and manage acquisitions and TUPE transfers and transformation programmes
• Maintain oversight of relevant HR policies and procedures
• Lead the implementation and continual innovation of HR management systems and processes
• Work with senior leaders to embed workforce planning and ensure an effective professional development offer for all employees
• Develop and embed the Employee Health and Wellbeing Strategy across the organisation in collaboration with the H&S manager
• Maintain effective working relationships with trade unions on individual and collective employment issues
• Lead, motivate, and develop the HR team to ensure exceptional, customer-focused, and solution-driven service delivery, fostering a culture of improvement, strong communication, and engagement
• Lead the Total Rewards and Benefits strategy
• Oversee ongoing engagement, inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing activities to improve employee experience and promote the business as an employer of choice
• Communicate highly complex information, including explaining complex matters of employment law and its implications to managers and staff at all levels of the organisation
• Manage the HR budget, including Employee Relations costs

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Chartered member of the CIPD level 7 - not essential
• Significant experience of working at a senior level in HR in a large organisation
• Substantial experience of leading HR operations and an HR team
• Experience of leading recruitment, onboarding and talent development activity
• Experiencing of working with and negotiating with unions and conflict resolution
• Knowledge and application of employment legislation and case law including TUPE legislation and preparing cases for employment tribunals
• Experience in promoting and managing diversity and inclusion within the workplace
• Managing HR budgets and financial planning
• Ability to manage and lead organisational change initiatives

Skills and Qualities

• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to think at a strategic level to be able to shape and implement HR strategies
• Strong coaching and influencing skills
• Ability to analyse HR metrics and data to inform decisions
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively and build strong relationships