Salary - Up to £80,000 per annum plus 25% KPI based discretionary bonus
Shape the future of an extraordinary growth business
The People Director is a senior executive role reporting directly to the CEO and sitting within the Zip World leadership team. The postholder will own everything that touches our people: from attraction and onboarding through development, culture, reward, and retention. This is not a policy‑writing or framework‑creation role. It is a delivery role, operating at pace in a business that is actively scaling.
Backed by Dolphin Capital, Zip World is at an inflection point – adding new sites, building professional management capability, and evolving from a founder‑led culture toward a high‑performing PE‑backed organisation. The People Director will play a central role in shaping what that organisation looks and feels like: building the HR function, developing our leaders, designing the frameworks that don’t yet exist, and ensuring that our people – the people who deliver visceral, extraordinary experiences every day – are recruited well, developed seriously, and retained for the long term.
The successful candidate will have the credibility to operate at board level, the practicality to drive delivery on the ground across a geographically dispersed multi‑site workforce, and the cultural empathy to understand what makes Zip World genuinely different.
Zip World is the UK's ultimate adventure destination. Home to the world’s fastest zip line, the UK’s first alpine coaster, and the UK’s only subterranean net adventure, Zip World is committed to providing the most unique and thrilling adventures – from check‑in to touch down. We are proud to be part of the B Corp family, which reflects our dedication to balancing profit with purpose. This status recognises our commitment to high social and environmental standards, transparency and accountability.
The Role
You will own the entire people agenda—from attraction and onboarding through to development, culture, reward, and retention.
You’ll operate at both board and ground level: influencing strategy in the boardroom while ensuring delivery across a geographically dispersed workforce.
As We Scale, You Will
* Build and lead a high‑performing HR function
* Design organisational structures that support rapid growth
* Develop leadership capability across all levels
* Create the frameworks and systems that don’t yet exist
* Ensure our culture remains bold, inclusive, and distinctive
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll take full ownership of the people strategy and make it real in the business:
Strategic Leadership & Growth
* Develop and deliver a People strategy aligned to our ambitious growth plans
* Partner with the CEO and board on talent, succession, and organisational health
* Lead organisation design as new sites and capabilities are added
Talent & Workforce Planning
* Build strong leadership pipelines to support multi‑site expansion
* Lead high‑volume, seasonal, and specialist recruitment simultaneously
* Strengthen our employer brand and candidate experience
Performance & Development
* Embed a high‑impact, practical performance culture
* Build succession planning and leadership development frameworks
* Equip managers to lead confident, meaningful people conversations
Culture, Reward & Engagement
* Design and implement structured reward frameworks and salary bands
* Lead engagement strategy and act on meaningful insights
* Champion a culture rooted in purpose, community, and performance
Employee Relations & Compliance
* Oversee complex ER matters with sound judgement and commercial awareness
* Ensure compliance while maintaining fairness and pragmatism
HR Operations
* Build scalable systems, processes, and data capability
* Develop and lead an HR team that delivers across all sites
* Provide meaningful people insights to the leadership team and board
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a senior HR leader who combines strategic credibility with hands‑on delivery.
You’ll Likely Bring
* Experience as a People Director, HR Director, or Head of HR in a multi‑site organisation
* A track record in high‑growth, scale‑up, or PE‑backed environments
* Experience building an HR function from the ground up
* A level 7 CIPD accreditation or equivalent
* Strong employment law expertise and confidence handling complex issues
* Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
* Commercial acumen and the ability to link people decisions to business outcomes
Bonus Points If You Have
* Experience in leisure, hospitality, tourism, or retail
* Exposure to founder‑led businesses transitioning to professional management
* Experience working with investors or presenting at board level
Who You Are
* Practical and delivery‑focused—you make things happen
* Straight‑talking and confident in challenging conversations
* Resilient and energised by fast‑paced, evolving environments
* Collaborative, credible, and able to build trust quickly
* Commercially minded, with a clear view of business impact
* Genuinely excited by what makes Zip World unique
Why Join Us?
This Is a Rare Opportunity To
* Shape the people function of a scaling, PE‑backed business
* Build frameworks, teams, and culture from a relatively blank slate
* Work directly with the CEO and influence at board level
* Play a central role in an ambitious growth journey
* Be part of a business that delivers truly unforgettable experiences
In Return We Offer
* A competitive salary up to £80,000 per annum
* Discretionary bonus scheme up to 25% (KPI based)
* Free use of Zip World adventures
* Discounted food & beverage on Zip World sites
* Exclusive discount on outdoor apparel
* Cycle to Work & Technology salary sacrifice scheme
Ready to build something exceptional?
If you’re a hands‑on, commercially minded People leader ready to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Closing Date: 3rd April 2026
Work Location: Hybrid in Llanrwst LL26
Application deadline: 03/04/2026
PI283236437
For our candidate privacy policy, please refer to the following link: https://www.zipworld.co.uk/privacy-policy-candidate
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