HR Director
đź“Ť West and South London locations
đź’· cÂŁ110,000 per annum + benefits
🏢 Hybrid working – 3–4 days onsite
⚡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 HR Director to lead an established team during a period of transformation.
🎯 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 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 Cloud
* Confidence to lead through complexity and change
đź“© 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