Fractional Head of HR

JR United Kingdom; London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job description

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Job Title: Fractional Head of HR / HR Director

Location: Flexible, with occasional on-site presence (London HQ)

Engagement Type: Freelance / Consultant (via Limited Company)

Commitment: ~1 day per week

About the Company

We are a privately owned, international restaurant group operating multiple brands across the UK, North America, and other global locations. As we continue to expand and professionalise our operations, we are seeking a senior HR professional to support the development and execution of our people strategy.

Our internal HR team is focused on day-to-day operations and employee relations. We are now looking to partner with an experienced and commercially minded Head of HR / HR Director to provide strategic guidance, coaching, and delivery support on a part-time, fractional basis.

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this is a strategic and hands-on role, working closely with the executive team to lead and deliver a phased HR transformation roadmap. The role requires a senior HR generalist with significant experience in employee relations, leadership development, organisational design, and HR operations, ideally within a multi-site or hospitality environment.

The successful candidate will become a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team, delivering high-impact HR initiatives while strengthening internal capability.

Key Responsibilities

Phase 1 – Immediate Priorities

• Review and assess ongoing employee relations (ER) issues across the group
• Provide ER coaching and practical training for Managing Directors and site managers
• Review and update HR policies (e.g. grievance, disciplinary, absence) for consistency and compliance across brands

Phase 2 – Medium-Term Focus

• Define and embed company values and leadership behaviours across brands to support cultural alignment
• Develop a clear and scalable job banding and role-leveling framework
• Design career progression pathways to support talent development and retention
• Support review and improvement of HR and payroll processes, including implementation of Workday as the core people system

Phase 3 – Longer-Term Strategic Support

• Advise on organisation design and structural changes as the business evolves
• Provide ongoing HR leadership and support to help build a modern, scalable people function

Candidate Profile

• Extensive senior HR leadership experience, ideally at HR Director level
• Proven track record of delivering strategic HR initiatives in complex, multi-site environments
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations best practices
• Experience developing HR frameworks, policies, and leadership development initiatives
• Comfortable working flexibly and independently, with the ability to build credibility quickly
• Commercially minded, pragmatic, and solutions-focused
• Experience in the hospitality, retail, or restaurant sectors
• Familiarity with Workday or similar HRIS systems
• Experience supporting international or multi-brand organisations

Working Model

• Approximately 1 day per week on an ongoing, flexible basis
• Combination of remote and on-site work as required (London-based HQ)
• Engagement via limited company, at a day rate of £600–£650

If you are an experienced HR leader looking for a flexible, high-impact opportunity to shape and professionalise the people function of a growing international hospitality group, we would be pleased to hear from you.