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Head of HR UK & Ireland
Location: West London (4 days on-site, 1 day flexibility)
Salary: c. £100,000 – £110,000 base + car allowance + bonus
Sector: Retail, leisure, hospitality or quick service restaurant (QSR) environments
We are partnering with a fast-paced, multi-site leisure business to appoint a Head of HR for the UK & Ireland.
This is a senior HR leadership role, sitting on the UKI senior leadership team and partnering directly with the General Manager and senior functional leaders.
While operational in nature, this is not a purely transactional role. It requires a credible, commercially minded HR leader with the gravitas to influence at senior level, shape practical people plans, and lead HR across a complex, multi-site environment.
The role
Reporting to the GM, you will act as the senior HR lead for the UK & Ireland, responsible for both head office and a large operational estate.
You will:
- Partner directly with the GM, Ops Director and wider senior leadership team
- Act as a trusted advisor and sounding board at senior level
- Lead and develop a small HR team, including HR Business Partners and coordination support
- Shape and deliver forward-looking people plans aligned to business priorities
- Drive improvements in leadership capability and line manager effectiveness
- Oversee complex ER, restructures, site closures, TUPE and organisational change
- Maintain strong HR governance, ensuring compliance and consistency across the business
- Work closely with Group HR to align with wider frameworks, policies and systems
- Use data and insight to identify trends and proactively address business challenges
This is a role that requires someone who can operate at pace, influence senior stakeholders, and balance hands-on delivery with strategic thinking.
The person
We are looking for a credible, senior HR leader who is comfortable operating at leadership level, while remaining close to the detail.
You will bring:
- Proven experience operating at Head of HR level, or equivalent senior HR leadership role within a multi-site environment
- A background in multi-site, customer-facing businesses (e.g. retail, leisure, hospitality or quick service restaurant (QSR) environments)
- The ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders with confidence and credibility
- Strong experience of organisational change, restructures and complex ER
- Experience creating and delivering practical, commercially focused people plans
- Experience leading and developing HR teams in lean environments
- A pragmatic, hands-on approach with strong business acumen
- High levels of resilience, sound judgement and personal credibility
You will be:
- Confident and assertive, with low ego and a collaborative style
- Comfortable navigating strong personalities and complex stakeholder dynamics
- A team player who can operate as a true partner to senior leadership
- Equally comfortable thinking ahead and getting into the detail when required
Why this role
This is a high-impact HR leadership role in a business undergoing ongoing operational and organisational change.
You will play a key role in:
- Supporting and influencing the UKI leadership team
- Improving leadership capability across the business
- Embedding effective people practices in a fast-moving environment
- Leading and developing a capable HR team within a lean structure
This role offers genuine visibility, influence and impact, with direct access to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape how HR supports the business going forward.