Head of People & Talent
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced People professional to shape and drive a company’s people strategy. You will be the sole HR professional in the business and a trusted strategic partner to the leadership team.
You will lead all aspects of People and Talent across a growing consultancy, from strategy through to execution. This role requires someone equally comfortable setting direction and rolling up their sleeves, a pragmatic, commercially minded operator who thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Key Responsibilities
People Strategy & Business Partnering
* Develop and implement a people strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans
* Partner closely with the senior leadership as a trusted advisor on all people matters
* Act as a strategic partner to senior leaders, providing commercially sound HR guidance
* Support organisational design and workforce planning
* Lead succession planning to identify and develop critical talent pipelines
Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
* Own and drive the end-to-end talent acquisition strategy, including employer branding, sourcing, selection, and offer management
* Build scalable, repeatable recruitment processes and manage relationships with external agencies and suppliers
* Own the ATS and ensure an excellent candidate experience throughout the hiring journey
* Design and manage a structured onboarding programme to set new starters up for success
Learning, Development & Performance
* Own employee development and training programmes, fostering a culture of continuous learning
* Design and manage performance management frameworks aligned with business objectives
* Lead initiatives to support employee engagement, well-being, and retention
Change Management & Culture
* Lead and support change management initiatives, ensuring effective communication and stakeholder engagement
* Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment
* Drive a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence
Reward, Compliance & HR Operations
* Design and manage competitive compensation and benefits programmes
* Ensure compliance with UK employment law and regulations
* Own and optimise HR systems, leveraging data and analytics for decision-making
* Manage the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through to offboarding
Qualifications & Experience
* CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum; Level 7 preferred) or equivalent experience
* Proven experience in a senior, generalist HR leadership role — ideally as a standalone or first HR hire
* Experience within a consultancy, professional services, or similar fast-paced environment is advantageous
* Demonstrable track record of developing and executing people strategies that support business growth
* Experience leading or supporting change management programmes
* Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
Skills & Competencies
* Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link people strategy to business performance
* Confident stakeholder manager with the ability to influence at senior and board level
* Strategic thinker who can operate hands-on in a lean environment
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working with ambiguity
* Collaborative mindset with a passion for people, culture, and organisational effectiveness