People Director

Manchester Permanent £90,000 - £110,000 per year View Job Description
We're partnering with a high-growth client on a pivotal, first-time strategic People hire - an exciting opportunity to shape and develop a best-in-class People strategy from the ground up.
  • First-time strategic appointment
  • High growth international organisation, on a steep curve and exciting change

About Our Client

Our customer is a fast-growing tech and digital business with a global presence across the UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Formed through the integration of multiple high-performing teams, they deliver creative, data-led brand experiences for global clients. With significant investment and ambitious growth plans - including international expansion and M&A - this is a pivotal time to join and shape the future of their People function.

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to become the business's first People Director, leading both strategy and delivery during a transformative period. As part of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will be responsible for designing and delivering a People strategy that scales with the business.You'll lead a small team and act as a trusted partner to leaders across multiple international locations. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who can confidently balance strategic planning with operational delivery.Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute a scalable People strategy to support both organic growth and M&A activity
  • Lead on organisational design, workforce planning and leadership development
  • Embed a strong approach to talent development, learning and succession planning
  • Shape reward, recognition, and performance frameworks
  • Integrate newly acquired teams, while preserving and evolving company culture
  • Strengthen internal communications and employer brand globally
  • Ensure alignment between people practices and commercial outcomes
  • Lead and coach a small People team, fostering capability, confidence, and collaboration
  • Oversee People Operations-ensuring consistency, compliance, and quality across all regions
  • Drive talent acquisition with a focus on quality of hire and candidate experience
  • Deliver learning and development programmes for technical and behavioural growth
  • Use people data to inform decision-making and produce relevant board-level reporting
  • Lead change and transformation projects, including systems and structural change
  • Act as a trusted advisor to leaders, building engagement and trust across regions

The Successful Applicant

We're looking for a seasoned People leader with experience operating at a senior level within creative, digital, or fast-paced, high-growth environments.You'll bring a strong track record of shaping and delivering people strategies that support both organic growth and acquisition activity, ideally within complex or scaling businesses. You'll have deep expertise across organisational design, talent development, and cultural transformation, underpinned by excellent knowledge of UK employment law and a strong ability to manage complex employee relations.A background in employment law would be a distinct advantage. Your style will be inclusive, pragmatic and commercially focused, with the confidence to operate credibly at board level and influence senior stakeholders.You'll be a natural relationship-builder with a collaborative, people-first approach and a clear, effective communication style. With experience of leading across multi-site, international organisations, you'll understand how to drive consistency while respecting local nuance and building trust across cultures.

What's on Offer

This role offers a salary of £90,000 to £100,000 per annum (dependent on experience), plus a performance related bonus, and a suite of benefits.

Contact
Nathan Ross
Quote job ref
JN-072025-6781851
Phone number
+44 161 829 0387

Job summary

Job function
Human Resources
Subsector
HR Director
Sector
Technology & Telecoms
Location
Manchester
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Nathan Ross
Consultant phone
+44 161 829 0387
Job reference
JN-072025-6781851