Job Description
Haywards Heath HQ | UK‑wide travel | Permanent
Reporting to the CEO
Our client is a market‑leading specialist services business operating at the forefront of the UK’s environmental services and waste management sectors. Known for their reliability, high standards and commitment to environmentally responsible solutions, the business has grown significantly in recent years, including expansion through acquisition, and is now entering an exciting new phase of development.
Against this backdrop of growth and operational scale, our client is seeking a Head of People who can enhance structure, consistency and clarity to how the organisation manages and develops its workforce. This is a genuine opportunity to shape the People function at a pivotal point in the company’s journey, working closely with the CEO to further strengthen the organisation’s people practices and support the continued development of its operational leadership community.
What you’ll be responsible for
* Leading the People function and setting clear, practical standards for managing a multi‑site workforce.
* Strengthening how the business handles performance, conduct, attendance and employee relations.
* Coaching managers so they feel confident dealing with day‑to‑day people issues.
* Introducing a structured onboarding process and helping shape the foundations of a training and competence framework.
* Owning the tracking and upkeep of qualifications, licences and refresher requirements.
* Supporting longer‑term harmonisation work relating to TUPE and legacy contracts.
* Improving communication, engagement and leadership visibility across operational teams.
* Managing effectively the growth of the organisation, ensuring culture is maintained and enhanced through the people proposition.
* Provide expertise in business change and transformation processes including TUPE, restructuring, organisational re-organisation.
* Creating board‑ready People reports and presenting / talking through board packs at scheduled board meetings.
Who we’d particularly like to speak with
We are especially interested in People leaders who have:
* Experience within multi‑site transport, logistics or industrial services environments who are typically on-site with the employee base.
* Supported organisations through growth, integration or acquisition.
* A practical, grounded style with credibility among operational and depot managers.
* Strong ER experience and the ability to bring structure and consistency to a People function.
* A hands‑on, approachable manner and genuine interest in understanding day‑to‑day operations.
The ideal candidate will be happy to work onsite, be comfortable ‘walking the floor’ and being the ‘face’ of the human resources function. This role will manage one individual directly and be the conduit between many operational functions.