Head of Human Resources

Head of HR / Up to £60,000 / Shropshire – Hybrid, 3 days a week on site HRLife are delighted to be partnering with a truly purpose-led organisation to appoint their new Head of HR. Providing a vital lifesaving service to communities across the region, this is an organisation where the work people do every day has a very real and visible impact. It also has a strong sense of community and a genuine, collaborative ‘one team' culture. This is an exciting time to join an organisation that has grown and evolved considerably in recent years. Reporting directly to the CEO and joining a newly formed Senior Leadership Team, this is an opportunity to lead the People agenda across the organisation, heading up a small HR team and supporting around 180 employees. There is plenty to shape. While you'll contribute to the longer-term People strategy from day one, one of your first priorities will be to take a fresh look at the function – understanding what's working well, where things could be stronger and ensuring the right foundations are in place to support the organisation's future. That will mean getting close to the detail. From employee relations, policies and processes through to manager capability, people data and the way the function operates, but always with an eye on the bigger picture, considering what the organisation need from its People function now, and what will it need in the future. Alongside this, you'll lead and develop the existing People team, creating clarity around roles and priorities, building capability and helping them grow as the function itself develops. You'll be close enough to the day-to-day to roll your sleeves up when needed, but equally able to step back, identify opportunities and influence at senior leadership level. And that's where this role becomes particularly interesting. With the right foundations in place, you'll work with the CEO and wider leadership team to shape priorities around culture, engagement, leadership capability, performance and development, ensuring the People function continues to evolve alongside the organisation. You'll understand what a great People function looks like and be able to translate organisational priorities into a clear and pragmatic People agenda. You'll be able to look at what's currently in place, identify where things could work better and then bring people with you as you make those changes. You'll also be comfortable using HR data and systems and able to bring greater structure and insight as the function develops. This is a friendly, collaborative organisation, so we're looking for someone who is approachable, pragmatic and down-to-earth; someone who builds relationships naturally but is equally comfortable constructively challenging when needed. You'll be positive and supportive, but with the credibility, judgement and confidence to become a trusted adviser to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team. If you enjoy getting under the skin of an organisation, understanding what it needs, strengthening the fundamentals and then building from there, it could be a brilliant opportunity. The ideal profile will include:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent senior-level HR experience.
• Previous experience operating in a senior HR leadership role, with the credibility to contribute at Senior Leadership Team level.
• Experience of leading, developing and getting the best from an HR team.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, with confidence managing and advising on complex employee relations matters.
• Experience of reviewing and improving HR policies, processes and ways of working, with an eye for what could be simpler, stronger or better.
• Broader experience across areas such as culture, engagement, wellbeing, ED&I, performance and organisational development.
• Confidence working with senior leaders, providing pragmatic advice, influencing decisions and constructively challenging when needed.
• An understanding of how to use people data, insight and HR systems to support better decision-making. Above all, we're looking for someone who can combine strong HR leadership with warmth, pragmatism and a genuine desire to make a difference.