Group HR Director – Europe
**Do you have the credibility, resilience, and cultural intelligence to align HR strategy and
practices across five European countries, each with unique legislation, local dynamics, and varying levels of team capability?**
Have you experience designing and embedding scalable HR systems such as talent frameworks, performance management, and compensation structures - across a decentralised, complex organisation?
Do you have the commercial mindset and leadership presence to influence a new senior team, drive organisational change without direct authority, and define what good looks like in a business mid-transformation?
MacGregor Black
is partnering with a
global food and beverage manufacturing business,
looking for a
European HR Director.
This is a permanent role based in
Greater London, United Kingdom.
As the
European HR Director
you will be responsible for rebuilding and aligning HR capability across five countries, developing a cohesive people strategy that supports business stability and sets the foundation for growth.
Key Responsibilities:
* Pan-European HR Alignment: Design and implement a consistent, compliant HR strategy across France, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and UK/Ireland. Ensure transferability of key platforms (onboarding, training, communication, performance, etc.) across all countries.
* Policy & Compliance: Establish and harmonise policies, procedures, and frameworks. Ensure full compliance with local employment laws and group standards, taking into account cultural and legal nuances, including work councils.
* Capabilities Uplift: Assess the maturity of HR teams across the region. Provide mentoring, support, and structured development to uplift HR capability - including those prematurely promoted. Create a clear standard for performance and delivery.
* Strategic Workforce Planning: Build a fit-for-purpose HR structure that meets current and future business needs. Support organisational redesign, talent planning, and succession management across all countries.
* Process Optimisation & Digitalisation: Identify and eliminate manual, inefficient processes. Drive adoption of shared systems and data-led decision making to streamline operations and elevate the employee experience.
* Cultural Integration: Support the development of a shared European culture built around the same values, behaviours, and ways of working. Lead initiatives that support alignment, engagement, and performance across diverse teams.
* Executive Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and SLT, contributing to broader business transformation decisions and helping "steady the ship" during a period of intense change.
What We're Looking For:
* Proven experience as a senior HR leader with multi-country responsibility across Europe, including strong working knowledge of France, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, and UK/Ireland.
* Deep understanding of compliance frameworks, cultural dynamics, and the unique challenges of managing works councils, differing employment laws, and varying HR maturity levels.
* Strong track record of leading HR transformation across structure, systems, and culture.
* Commercially minded, with the ability to align HR plans to business objectives and drive measurable results.
* Skilled in mentoring and upskilling teams, with a practical understanding of how to define, communicate, and implement "what good looks like."
* Experienced in digital HR tools, automation, and leveraging data to drive decision making.
* Comfortable operating without direct reports but with full accountability for regional HR impact.
Salary upto
£150k
plus benefits.
Please contact
Alice Redmond
for more information today.