About the role

HR Director responsible for delivering a high-performing People function for a financial services firm. Leading HR operations internationally, ensuring consistency and compliance across UK and Europe.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Human Resources Director will play a critical role in shaping and delivering a high-performing, globally consistent People function during a period of significant international growth.
Operating as a senior partner to the executive leadership team, this role will balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution, supporting a fast-growing, private-equity-backed financial services organisation with a complex, multi-jurisdictional footprint.
As one of two senior HR Directors, the role will have responsibility for driving scalable people infrastructure, strengthening performance management, and ensuring robust governance across the UK and Europe, while supporting leaders through change, growth, and increasing organisational complexity.

Partner with the CPO to define and execute a global People strategy aligned to the organisation’s culture, reputation, and growth ambitions
Lead HR operations across multiple jurisdictions and time zones, ensuring consistency, scalability, and compliance
Provide expert guidance on UK and European employment law, advising leaders on regulatory, employee relations, and people risk matters
Support the development of high-impact performance management systems, including frameworks for performance reviews, career progression, reward, and managing underperformance
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organisational design, leadership development, succession planning, and change initiatives
Contribute to the design and implementation of a new HRIS, including HR processes, policies, and data migration
Support and oversee talent acquisition at scale, maintaining high standards across regions
Shape and embed a values-led, inclusive culture, with a strong focus on engagement and DEI
Coach leaders and managers, building capability, confidence, and healthy team environments
Manage and contribute to significant annual HR budgets, ensuring commercial rigour and ROI

10+ years’ experience in HR roles within fast-paced, entrepreneurial services environments, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role
Proven experience operating in high-growth professional services, financial services, or technology-led organisations
Strong, hands-on experience managing HR operations across multiple countries, with deep knowledge of UK and European employment law
Experience leading or contributing to HR systems implementation and data migration (e.g. SuccessFactors, BambooHR, or similar platforms)
Demonstrated ability to operate with commercial acumen, including building and presenting business cases to executive and board-level stakeholders
Experience supporting talent acquisition and workforce scaling in complex, multi-region environments
Comfortable working in ambiguous, evolving environments, with the ability to move fluidly between strategy and execution
Strong advisory presence, able to build trusted relationships quickly with senior leaders and stakeholders
A personal drive for high standards, continuous improvement, and impact, coupled with sound judgement and pragmatism