Hays
Head of People and Development
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Your New Company
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and strategic HR leader to join a values-driven organisation as Head of People & Development. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering an ambitious people strategy that supports organisational growth, workforce sustainability, employee wellbeing, and a positive workplace culture.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will play a key role in influencing organisational direction, driving people-focused initiatives, and ensuring the organisation continues to operate within a robust, compliant, and high-performing people framework.
This role offers the chance to make a lasting impact across workforce planning, organisational development, employee relations, leadership development, and HR transformation.
Your New Role
As Head of People & Development, you will provide strategic leadership across the full people agenda, ensuring the organisation's people strategy aligns with wider business objectives and future workforce requirements. Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading the People & Development strategy and workforce planning initiatives across the organisation
- Providing expert strategic advice to senior leadership on people, culture, organisational development, and workforce challenges
- Driving key workforce projects and organisational change initiatives
- Championing wellbeing, culture, inclusion, and values-based leadership
- Overseeing all areas of HR governance, compliance, safeguarding requirements, and employment legislation
- Ensuring HR policies and processes remain compliant, effective, and aligned with best practice.
- Leading on complex employee relations matters, acting as a senior decision-maker and advisor on high-risk cases
- Managing relationships with recognised trade unions and leading on collective consultation and strategic employee relations matters
- Developing an attractive employer brand to support recruitment and talent attraction
- Designing and implementing leadership and management development programmes
- Maximising the use of HR systems and people analytics to inform decision-making and workforce strategy
- Driving collaboration between HR and Finance to enhance reporting, workforce planning, and organisational insight
- Managing and developing the People & Development team, ensuring operational excellence and a high-quality employee experience
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What You'll Need to Succeed
To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced senior HR professional with a proven track record of leading people strategies within complex organisations. You will bring:
- Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation, HR best practice, and safeguarding requirements.
- Demonstrable experience managing complex employee relations and organisational change matters.
- Expertise in workforce planning, talent strategy, and organisational development.
- Experience working effectively with recognised trade unions and managing union relationships.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility at executive and senior leadership level.
- Experience delivering culture, wellbeing, and engagement initiatives.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using HR systems and people data to drive decision-making.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building capabilities.
- A collaborative, proactive, and values-driven approach.
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What You'll Get in Return
In return, you will have the opportunity to join an organisation where people are at the heart of its success. You'll benefit from:
- A senior leadership position with significant strategic influence
- The opportunity to shape organisational culture and workforce strategy
- A varied and impactful role covering the full spectrum of People & Development
- The chance to lead meaningful organisational change and development initiatives
- A supportive and values-led working environment
- Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities
- A competitive salary and benefits package
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you are an experienced Head of People, Senior People Partner, or People & Development Leader seeking an opportunity to influence strategy, drive culture, and lead a high-performing people function, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now or contact us for a confidential discussion to find out more about this exceptional Head of People & Development opportunity.
Desired Skills and Experience
Head of HR
Head of People
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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