Interim Director of HR West and South London locations c£700 per day – Inside IR35 Hybrid working – 3–4 days onsite ⏳ 2–3 months with opportunity to go permanent ⚡Are you an HR operator who gets things done? Not afraid to make tough calls, sharpen processes, and drive performance? Ready to lead a hands-on transformation in a world-class scientific and academic environment? We're looking for a pragmatic, operationally strong Interim HR Director to step in during a critical transition period. The Mission The organisation is building a more agile, service-oriented HR function to support ambitious research goals and people-first values. You’ll bring structure, focus, and leadership to a team navigating change – streamlining operations, embedding consistency, and improving responsiveness. This is a role for someone who thrives on practical delivery and leads confidently through change. It's an opportunity to make a real impact, both in the short term and potentially as part of the long-term leadership team. ✅What You’ll Be Doing • Drive operational performance – clear backlogs, implement consistent policies, improve SLAs • Lead a team across two locations • Support major projects – ERP migration, pension provider change • Tackle ER and union matters – pay negotiations, complex employee relations issues • Oversee high-volume recruitment activity • Be hands-on – 3–4 days onsite to build relationships and visibility • Evaluate capabilities, energise culture, and deliver continuous improvement What You Bring • A strong track record in HR operations, ideally in scientific, academic, or charitable sectors • Experience with unions, pensions, and shared service models • Hands-on leadership – someone who fixes, not just delegates • Comfort working in smaller organisations (~1,200 staff) • Proven ability to enhance policy, service delivery, and engagement • Familiarity with HR systems like Oracle Fusion • Confidence to lead through complexity and change Interested? We’d love to hear from you, especially if you can show: • How you’ve improved HR service, process, and culture • Where you’ve driven operational excellence in mission-driven environments • Your role in union relations, pensions, or systems projects • How you’ve addressed challenging staffing or culture issues