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, we help our clients solve complex challenges across the entire building lifecycle.
At CBRE, we believe that diversity strengthens our business. We welcome applications from talented professionals from all backgrounds, experiences and industries, even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.
Join us in London and become part of a global organisation where your expertise, ideas and leadership can make a lasting impact.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Regional People Director is a key member of the Northern Europe leadership team and serves as the strategic People partner for our business across 10 countries, including DACH, the Nordics, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Reporting to the Head of People, Local Europe, this role plays a critical part in shaping and delivering the people agenda that enables business growth, organisational effectiveness and long-term success. Working closely with Managing Directors, Country Leaders and senior stakeholders, the Regional People Director will drive high-impact people strategies that strengthen leadership capability, organisational performance and employee engagement across a diverse and geographically dispersed region.
Leading a regional People team, you will balance strategic direction with operational excellence, ensuring that regional and global priorities are translated into practical, commercially focused solutions that reflect local market realities, employment frameworks and cultural nuances.
As a trusted advisor, coach and constructive challenger to senior leaders, you will provide guidance across organisational design, workforce planning, talent development, employee relations, leadership effectiveness and business transformation. You will play a critical role in helping leaders navigate change, make effective people decisions and build high-performing teams.
The role will also lead and support significant transformation activity, including business growth initiatives, organisational redesign, client mobilisations, acquisitions, restructuring programmes and integration projects. Ensuring that these activities are delivered effectively, compliantly and with a strong people focus will be essential to success.
Working closely with leaders and People teams across the region, you will champion a culture built around CBRE's RISE values, promoting collaboration, accountability, inclusion, development and continuous improvement.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior HR leader who thrives in a dynamic international environment and is motivated by the opportunity to influence business strategy, shape organisational culture and create meaningful impact across multiple countries and markets.
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 agenda across a portfolio of countries, ensuring alignment with the Local Operating Model, regional priorities and broader business objectives
- Drive consistency in people practices while ensuring appropriate local adaptation in line with legislation, market dynamics and cultural expectations
- Contribute to the successful delivery of the Local Europe business plan and People Roadmaps, ensuring measurable value for the business
- Act as a senior leader within the wider Local Europe People function, contributing to strategic planning, leadership initiatives and continuous improvement
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People Strategy, Analytics and Change
- Leverage workforce data, market insights and external trends to inform decision-making and proactively address future talent and organisational needs
- Lead and support organisational change initiatives, ensuring strong communication, stakeholder engagement and sustainable implementation
- Provide strategic guidance on organisational design, succession planning, workforce planning and leadership development
- Lead relationships with works councils, trade unions and employee representative bodies, ensuring constructive partnerships and effective employee relations
- Support transformation initiatives including client mobilisations, acquisitions, restructures and business integration programmes
Culture, Engagement and Employee Experience
- Drive initiatives that strengthen organisational culture and support the GWS Local Strategy, People Roadmap and CBRE's RISE values
- Partner with leaders to foster an inclusive, values-led and high-performance environment
- Lead employee engagement programmes, ensuring that survey insights translate into tangible actions and measurable improvements
- Promote collaboration, accountability, fairness and continuous development across all levels of the organisation
- Act as a visible and accessible People leader across the region
Leadership and Stakeholder Management
- Build trusted relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders, acting as a commercially minded strategic advisor
- Provide pragmatic, risk-aware and legally sound guidance across employee relations, organisational change and leadership challenges
- Influence and challenge senior stakeholders constructively, combining business understanding with external best practice
- Ensure people policies and processes are implemented consistently while respecting local legal and business requirements
- Represent the People function confidently within leadership forums, business reviews and strategic planning discussions
People Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Lead, develop and inspire People Team members across the region, creating a high-performing and collaborative culture
- Attract, retain and develop People talent capable of supporting an evolving and ambitious business agenda
- Promote a strong "One Team" mindset across countries, functions and specialist teams
- Partner closely with Shared Services and Centres of Excellence to ensure an efficient, seamless and high-quality employee experience
- Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across People delivery
YOUR PROFILE
- Significant senior-level HR or People leadership experience within large, complex and multi-country organisations
- Proven track record of successfully partnering with Managing Directors, executive leaders and senior business stakeholders
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate business priorities into practical, scalable and impactful people solutions
- Extensive experience across organisational transformation, employee relations, workforce planning, talent management and leadership development
- Demonstrated experience working with works councils, trade unions and employee representative bodies across multiple jurisdictions
- Strong understanding of employment legislation and People practices across diverse European markets
- Outstanding stakeholder management, influencing and coaching skills
- Ability to lead and develop geographically dispersed People teams in a complex international environment
- Strong analytical capability and confidence using data and insights to drive business decisions
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and credibly
- Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating within a fast-paced and evolving environment
- CIPD Chartered Member, Chartered Fellow or equivalent qualification would be advantageous
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OUR BENEFITS
- A unique opportunity to shape the people agenda across 10 countries and influence business decisions at the highest regional leadership level
- A highly visible and impactful role with significant scope to drive organisational success and business performance
- Excellent training and development opportunities, including internationally recognised certifications and structured onboarding through our Welcome Days programme
- A competitive and comprehensive compensation package
- The opportunity to collaborate with senior leaders across Europe and build a truly international career within the world's leading workplace solutions provider
- A collaborative, inclusive and supportive culture where innovation, development and continuous improvement are encouraged
- A strong commitment to diversity, wellbeing, occupational safety and work-life balance
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 so, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV via our application system. No cover letter required.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
APPLICANT AI USE DISCLOSURE
We value authentic human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence to make hiring decisions. We ask candidates to disclose any use of AI tools during the application and interview process.
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