CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS)
Regional People Director - Northern Europe
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ABOUT CBRE GLOBAL WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS
CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) is part of CBRE Group and employs more than 155,000 people worldwide. We deliver fully integrated solutions across real estate, facilities management and technology for owners, occupiers and investors globally. As the world's leading provider of workplace solutions in more than 100 countries, GWS is committed to solving complex challenges across the entire building lifecycle.
At CBRE, we believe that diversity makes us stronger. We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and industries, even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Join us in London and bring your unique expertise and perspective to our team.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Regional People Director is a key strategic leader within the Local Europe People function, providing senior People leadership across a diverse portfolio of 10 countries in Northern Eastern Europe. Reporting to the Head of People, Local Europe, this role will partner closely with Managing Directors, regional business leaders and country leadership teams to deliver the GWS Local Strategy, strengthen organisational capability and drive sustainable business performance.
This is a highly visible regional leadership role, requiring the ability to balance strategic direction with practical delivery across different cultures, employment frameworks and stages of market maturity. The Regional People Director will ensure that People strategies, policies and initiatives are aligned with the Local Operating Model while remaining responsive to local market, legal and business requirements.
Acting as a trusted advisor, coach and constructive challenger to senior business leaders, the Regional People Director will shape and deliver people strategies that create measurable impact across talent, organisational effectiveness, employee engagement, employee relations, leadership capability, culture and business transformation.
The role will also lead and support significant change and transformation activity, including client mobilisations, new business wins, organisational redesign, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring programmes and other strategic initiatives. These activities must be delivered effectively, compliantly and in line with both the GWS Local Strategy and the wider Local Europe People agenda.
Working closely with leaders and People teams across the region, the successful candidate will champion a culture built around CBRE's RISE values, promoting collaboration, accountability, fairness, inclusion, growth and continuous development. They will bring deep People leadership expertise, strong commercial judgement and the ability to position CBRE as an employer of choice across a complex and competitive regional market.
To succeed in this role, the Regional People Director must be a visible, credible and influential leader with the confidence to challenge constructively, drive innovation and deliver pragmatic solutions. They will demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and commercial acumen, combining strategic thinking with a strong focus on execution and results.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Alignment and Delivery
- Partner with Managing Directors, regional business leaders and country leadership teams to translate the GWS Local Strategy into practical and measurable people plans
- Lead the People function across a portfolio of countries, ensuring alignment with the Local Operating Model, the Local Europe People structure and wider business priorities
- Drive regional consistency in People practices while ensuring appropriate local adaptation in line with employment legislation, market conditions and cultural expectations
- Contribute to the delivery of the Local Europe business plan and People Team Roadmaps, ensuring that People activity has a clear and measurable impact on business performance
- Act as a senior People leader within the wider Local Europe People team, contributing to regional priorities, strategic planning and continuous improvement.
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People Strategy, Analytics and Change
- Use data, insights and external market intelligence to anticipate talent and workforce needs, inform decision-making and support business planning
- Lead and support organisational change programmes, ensuring that employee engagement, communication and effective implementation are central to all activity
- Provide strategic guidance on organisational design, workforce planning, leadership capability and talent development across the region
- Lead relationships with works councils, trade unions and other employee representative bodies, ensuring constructive partnership and effective employee relations
- Support transformation initiatives, including client mobilisations, acquisitions, restructures and business integration activity.
Culture, Engagement and Employee Experience
- Develop and deliver initiatives that strengthen organisational culture and support the GWS Local Strategy, People Roadmap and CBRE's RISE values
- Work with leaders and managers to reinforce a high-performance, inclusive and values-led culture across the region
- Lead employee engagement activity, including survey participation, action planning and follow-up, ensuring that insights are translated into meaningful improvements
- Promote fairness, collaboration, accountability and continuous development across all levels of the organisation
- Act as a visible People leader who is accessible to employees, leadership teams and key stakeholders.
Leadership and Stakeholder Management
- Build trusted relationships with senior business leaders and key stakeholders, acting as a commercially minded strategic partner to the business
- Provide clear, pragmatic and legally sound advice on People policies, employee relations matters, organisational change and leadership challenges
- Influence and challenge senior stakeholders constructively, bringing both internal knowledge and external best practice to support better decision-making
- Ensure People policies and processes are developed, implemented and applied in line with local country practices, corporate requirements and legal obligations
- Represent the People function confidently in regional business discussions, leadership forums and strategic planning activities.
People Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Lead, develop and support People Team members across the region, fostering a high-performance, delivery-focused and collaborative culture
- Attract, retain and develop People talent with the capability and commitment to deliver against business priorities
- Promote a "one team" ethos across the People network, ensuring strong collaboration across countries, functions and specialist teams
- Work closely with People Shared Services and Centres of Excellence to ensure a seamless, efficient and high-quality service to internal stakeholders
- Drive continuous improvement across People delivery, ensuring that processes are effective, scalable and aligned with the needs of the business.
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YOUR PROFILE
- Significant senior-level People leadership experience within large, complex and multi-country organisations
- Proven track record of partnering with Managing Directors, executive leaders or senior business leadership teams to deliver business and people strategies
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to translate business priorities into practical, effective and measurable people solutions
- Extensive experience across employee relations, organisational transformation, change management, workforce planning and talent development
- Experience working with works councils, trade unions and employee representative bodies across multiple jurisdictions
- Strong understanding of employment legislation and People practices across different European markets
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, coach and challenge constructively at senior levels
- Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate high-performing People teams across geographically dispersed locations
- Strong analytical capability and confidence in using data and insights to support business decision-making
- Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and credibly
- Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving and high-volume environment
- CIPD Chartered Member, Chartered Fellow or equivalent qualification would be advantageous.
OUR BENEFITS
- A future-proof career opportunity with excellent long-term development prospects in one of the fastest-growing FM markets worldwide
- A highly impactful role with broad responsibilities and significant scope to influence and shape business outcomes
- Excellent training and development opportunities, including internationally recognised, state-of-the-art certifications and a structured onboarding through our Welcome Days
- An attractive and comprehensive compensation package
- An international working environment with inspiring cross-border career opportunities
- A friendly and collegial atmosphere combined with a dynamic, creative and collaborative working culture
- Diversity, occupational safety and work-life balance are part of our lived values.
DO YOU NEED MORE REASONS TO JOIN CBRE? CHECK OUT OUR AWARDS:
- Best Place to Work 2026, Glassdoor
- Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2026, The Times
- World's Leading Facilities Management Provider for Data Centres 2026, Data Centre Magazine
- Top Company 2026, Kununu
- Best Workplace for Women 2026, LATINA Style
- Commitment to Diversity and Talent Development Award 2025, Datacloud Global Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to Skills and Training Award 2025, DCS Awards
- Best Data Centre Operator 2025, Data Centre World Awards
ARE YOU THE REGIONAL PEOPLE DIRECTOR WE ARE LOOKING FOR?
If yes, please submit your CV, no cover letter required, including your availability via our application system.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.
APPLICANT AI USE DISCLOSURE
We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make hiring decisions. We ask candidates to disclose any use of AI tools during the application and interview process.
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